Bloomberg Talks
00:06:53 · Michael O'Leary, Tim Stenovec, Michael O'Leary
[00:06:53] S2: And I think that would put further pressure on both states and airports to reduce costs. For those states who are abolishing taxes and airports reducing costs, we'll see tremendous growth. States that don't get it, Berlin, Paris, they'll continue to see decline. [00:07:09] S1: Could Ryanair become an acquisition target itself? [00:07:12] S0: I doubt it. We're a public company. There's no reason why. But we would be expensive. I think our market cap. [00:07:18] S2: Today is about $ 20 billion. We plan to double that over the next four or five years. So we'd be an expensive acquisition, but we're a public company. So if somebody wants to show up and make a big offer, I'm sure the board would have to consider it. [00:07:32] S1: You'll take their call if somebody phones you about Ryanair's future? [00:07:35] S2: Well, we'll always take anybody's call about Ryanair's future. But, you know, I'm committed to Ryanair's future, certainly for the next five years. So is the rest of the management team. We think with the delivery of MAX 10s, we have a very exciting future. But it's a future in Europe where there will be less airlines operating. I think Europe is inevitably moving towards four large airline groups, BA, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and Ryanair. And there's only one airline in that group that is committed to low fare air travel, and it's Ryanair. If we don't grow, everybody else is going to get screwed in Europe in the next five years.
00:07:35 · Michael O'Leary, Tim Stenovec, Michael O'Leary
[00:07:35] S2: Well, we'll always take anybody's call about Ryanair's future. But, you know, I'm committed to Ryanair's future, certainly for the next five years. So is the rest of the management team. We think with the delivery of MAX 10s, we have a very exciting future. But it's a future in Europe where there will be less airlines operating. I think Europe is inevitably moving towards four large airline groups, BA, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and Ryanair. And there's only one airline in that group that is committed to low fare air travel, and it's Ryanair. If we don't grow, everybody else is going to get screwed in Europe in the next five years. [00:08:05] S1: You had a very public bust up with Elon Musk recently about Starlink. I'm just wondering if you had a chance to make up since. [00:08:10] S0: I have no intention of making up with him. He thinks I'm an idiot. I know he's an idiot. [00:08:16] S2: But, you know, he generated about 30 or 40 million dollars worth of free publicity for Ryanair and our bookings went up for two or three weeks. [00:08:23] S0: So if we can annoy him again, so much the better. [00:08:25] S1: OK, Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair. Thank you very much for joining us in studio this morning.