Ryanair and the Daily Mail have settled over a legal action over an article which claimed some pilots had raised concerns over a fuel policy. But there appears to be a question mark over whether or not damages were awarded to the airline.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said the action showed the safety record of his budget airline was vindicated, saying:
"Any airline can only survive on reputation of safety.
It is one of the safest industries generally and as the Irish Aviation Authority has confirmed Ryanair's safety is on a par with the safest airlines in Europe - not the average but with the safest. Generally speaking we are content to allow the media or anybody else to make whatever claims they want but not inaccurate claims about our safety. We must and will continue to vigorously defend our outstanding safety record."
The terms of the settlement with Associated Newspapers which owns the Daily Mail were confidential with a lawyer for Associated Newspapers reading out a brief statement.
Michael Kealey, who represented the media group, said they accepted Ryanair's
29-year safety record and that the airline had fully complied with EU regulations.
Referring to their recent article in their newspaper about Ryanair, the Ryanair Pilot Group and other claims broadcast in a Channel 4 TV Dispatches programme; he said:
"Ryanair does not accept the results of the survey conducted by the interim council of this group, whose chairman is a KLM pilot, or that the group represents the views of the majority of Ryanair's pilots.
In relation to the three fuel emergency landings in Valencia over 12 months ago on July 26 we accept that the official report produced by the Irish safety agencies confirmed that all three aircraft took on extra fuel, all three aircraft flew for over one hour more than planned (due to adverse weather and diversions from Madrid to Valencia).
All three aircraft fully complied with EU safety rules when landing safely in Valencia."
The statement also acknowledged that if Ryanair pilots had safety concerns they were told to report them, "either directly to Ryanair, or to the Irish Aviation Authority, using their confidential safety reporting systems."
This fact was broadcast in the original TV programme.
Mr Kealey added:
"We also accept the recent confirmation issued by the independent Irish Aviation Authority that Ryanair's safety is on a par with the safest airlines in Europe and acknowledge Ryanair's industry leading 29-year safety record."
Ryanair also intends to sue Channel 4 and Dispatches for defamation. Channel 4 has said it stands by its journalism and will “robustly defend proceedings if they are initiated”.
Libel lawyer Paul Tweed, acting for Ryanair, said the airline was seeking to have an action against Channel 4 listed before the High Court in Dublin as soon as possible.
Whilst John Goss, Ryanair's previously decorated Chief Safety pilot with over 25 years service at Ryanair was immediately sacked by the airline following the Channel 4 Dispatches programme; it is no surprise that Ryanair's current Chief Pilot Captain Ray Conway has said that he was satisfied with the outcome of the case.
Further his statement was clearly engineered to dispel any authority of, and further comments from, the Ryanair's Pilot Group which represents over 50% of the airlines pilots:
"I am very satisfied with the comprehensive vindication and acknowledgement of Ryanair's 29-year safety record by the Daily Mail before the courts this morning. I wish to emphasise that Ryanair cannot and will not tolerate what were totally unjustified and inappropriate allegations in relation to our industry-leading safety. Safety has been and always will be the absolute priority of Ryanair."
Source: The Huffington Post UK
