Ryanair CEO. TAP aid ‘not investment’ but taxpayer funds ‘down toilet’
Support for TAP "is not an investment," O'Leary said at a news conference, rejecting the argument put forward by the minister of infrastructure, that the state has the right to invest in TAP.
The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, said on Wednesday that Portuguese state support for TAP, the national airline, is not an investment but rather taxpayers’ money “flushed down the toilet” – accusing the government minister responsible for overseeing it, Pedro Nuno Santos, of telling “falsehoods”.
Support for TAP “is not an investment,” O’Leary said at a news conference, rejecting the argument put forward by Santos, who is minister of infrastructure, that the state has the right to invest in TAP. “It is taxes flushed down TAP’s toilet.”
“Minister Santos has been carrying out a campaign to make false accusations about Ryanair,” the Ryanair CEO aded.
O’Leary has issued a series of criticisms and accusations against Portugal’s government, and especially Santos, in recent weeks, as his airline – which has significant operations in Portugal – continues to face difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while state-controlled ones such as TAP enjoy bailouts from governments.
