Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary dismissed investor objections to his €150 million share reward scheme, telling them to "grow up." After 40 percent of investors voted against his contract this month, the airline must now hold shareholder meetings to address concerns. O'Leary argues the targets are aggressive but achievable, stating the share price would nearly double if met. He noted some opposition stemmed from ESG concerns regarding "big egregious pay," comparing it to footballer salaries. The scheme, which grants O'Leary shares worth €150 million only if the Dublin-traded stock hits €42 for 28 days or the company achieves €4 billion post-tax profit, fell short of the 75 percent approval needed. Consequently, Ryanair must consult investors, though the scheme itself remains unchanged. Beyond pay, O'Leary warned of rising airfares, predicting increases of 10 to 20 percent next summer if fuel prices stay high. He also projected fares could nearly double within a decade if jet fuel remains at $140 a barrel. Ryanair is cutting winter flights to save money, operating reduced capacity on specific days. The airline is less hedged on fuel than historically, buying only 40 percent in advance versus the usual 80 percent, hoping for price drops linked to US midterm elections.

O'Leary, whose airline is Europe's largest, also commented on industry-wide fuel hedging, noting competitors face similar market pressures. He highlighted the disparity between Ryanair's €50 fares and US carriers like Southwest averaging $175. The carrier will not cut summer flights but will strip back winter capacity, removing services on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturday afternoons, and early Sunday mornings through mid-January.