Quotes from Ryanair's outspoken boss Michael O'Leary

Michael O'Leary is Irish low-cost airline Ryanair's outspoken chief executive, who is known as much for his colourful turns of phrase as his business acumen.

Here is a selection of his reported quotes:

- On customers -

"People say the customer is always right, but you know what -- they're not. Sometimes they are wrong and they need to be told so."

"You're not getting a refund, so fuck off. We don't want to hear your sob stories. What part of 'no refund' don't you understand?"

"One thing we have looked at is maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door."

"I'd love to operate aircraft where we take out the back ten rows and put in hand rails... People say 'Oh but the people standing may get killed if there's a crash'. Well, with respect, the people sitting down might get killed as well."

"Do we carry rich people on our flights? Yes, I flew on one this morning and I'm very rich."

- On the industry -

"We fight constantly with governments and idiot Brussels bureaucrats who want to put up the cost of air travel."

"The best thing you can do with environmentalists is shoot them."

"We expect our profits to grow by 20 to 25 percent. That's not just good, that's practically obscene in an industry in which few people make money. This isn't an airline, it's a drug baron's business."

- On himself -

"I don't give a fuck if no one likes me. I am not a cloud bunny.... I don't like airplanes. I never wanted to be a pilot like those other platoons of goons who populate the airline industry."

"I don't mind dressing up in something stupid or pulling gormless faces if it helps. Frankly, I don't give a rat's arse about my personal dignity."

- On the French -

"You can't prevent the French from striking! Well, they don't allow the French military to go on strike. Mind you, no one would notice anyway."

"I think the most influential person in Europe in the last 20 to 30 years has been Margaret Thatcher, who has left a lasting legacy that has driven us towards lower taxes and greater efficiency. Without her we'd all be living in some French bloody unemployed republic."

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