Ryanair's chief executive, Michael O’Leary, used strong language to criticize other airlines during a press briefing ahead of the company’s annual meeting in Dublin. He referred to competitors such as Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, and British Airways as "high-fare rapists," arguing that their rising prices would drive customers to Ryanair’s lower fares. O’Leary defended the term, stating that it was appropriate to use such language to highlight the contrast between his airline’s pricing and that of others. He repeated the phrase when asked if it was suitable, insisting that the term was a metaphor for the financial burden passengers faced when flying with more expensive carriers. O’Leary faced questions about whether his comments were offensive to victims of sexual assault. He responded by saying he would "happily offend" the airlines he criticized, and when pressed further, he reiterated that the term was a direct label for high-priced carriers. He maintained that the language was not meant to trivialize rape but to emphasize the economic pressure on consumers. In addition to his remarks about competitors, O’Leary criticized Martin Rolfe, the chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (Nats), for how he has handled recent air traffic control issues. He accused Rolfe of hiding behind safety concerns and argued that his approach—such as grounding aircraft—was unnecessary and unwise. O’Leary also claimed that the UK government, which owns 49% of Nats, was shielding Rolfe from scrutiny. He called for Rolfe’s removal, saying it was illogical for someone who had been involved in past air traffic control failures to investigate the current issues. In response to the controversy, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that she had requested the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct an independent review of the situation. The review is expected to be completed within six months. This move comes amid growing scrutiny of both Ryanair’s rhetoric and the management of air traffic control services in the UK.