Ryanair vs Spain's Transport Ministry: the maths book taunt
O'Leary suggests Puente buy a maths book amid the airport fee war, with Ryanair threatening to pull routes.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
O'Leary tells Puente to buy a maths book and stirs up another aviation row
When Ryanair stops flying somewhere, that place usually starts to worry. But when the airline's chief executive suggests a minister buy himself a maths book for dummies, the worry turns into a full-blown panic. The war over airport fees has a new chapter.
The clash between Michael O'Leary and Spain's Transport Minister, Oscar Puente, is no one-off outburst. Ryanair has made fee pressure its modus operandi. The most recent example: the removal of all its flights to the Azores, in Portugal, over its refusal to pay charges the airline considers disproportionate. The route has even disappeared from its website.
The maths book taunt divides analysts. Some see it as a lesson in market economics: lower fees, cheaper tickets, more tourism. Others read it as an intimidation strategy. They point out that Ryanair tends to fly to small, remote airports, and that its "price first, everything else later" policy leaves many regions on the ropes.
Meanwhile, in Spain, other airlines are starting to look with interest at secondary airports Ryanair scorns. The threat of leaving loses its bite when competitors are willing to fill the gap. The question is whether Puente will decide to prove O'Leary right, do the sums and cut the fees, or wait for the Irishman to get bored. Knowing Ryanair, either option is a risk. What does the minister prefer: a maths book or a war that lasts for years?
When Ryanair stops flying somewhere, that place usually starts to worry. But when the airline's chief executive suggests a minister buy himself a maths book for dummies, the worry turns into a full-blown panic. The war over airport fees has a new chapter.
The clash between Michael O'Leary and Spain's Transport Minister, Oscar Puente, is no one-off outburst. Ryanair has made fee pressure its modus operandi. The most recent example: the removal of all its flights to the Azores, in Portugal, over its refusal to pay charges the airline considers disproportionate. The route has even disappeared from its website.
The maths book taunt divides analysts. Some see it as a lesson in market economics: lower fees, cheaper tickets, more tourism. Others read it as an intimidation strategy. They point out that Ryanair tends to fly to small, remote airports, and that its "price first, everything else later" policy leaves many regions on the ropes.
Meanwhile, in Spain, other airlines are starting to look with interest at secondary airports Ryanair scorns. The threat of leaving loses its bite when competitors are willing to fill the gap. The question is whether Puente will decide to prove O'Leary right, do the sums and cut the fees, or wait for the Irishman to get bored. Knowing Ryanair, either option is a risk. What does the minister prefer: a maths book or a war that lasts for years?
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (42 replies).
More summaries
-
Puente's Vueling defense backfires as passenger data contradicts him
Ryanair carried 209,000 passengers; Vueling only 87,500 in 2025. Puente claims success but faces backlash over insults.
-
Cristina Pardo corners Óscar Puente on Antena 3
Cristina Pardo puts Óscar Puente on the spot on Antena 3, using corruption as a weapon and sparking talk of a changing cycle in the press and its…
-
Poll puts Aliança Catalana as leading force in Catalonia
A poll places Aliança Catalana as the leading force in Catalonia. The result fragments the vote and leaves governability in a mathematical deadlock, according to...
-
Spain's Civil Guard UCO asks judge for PSOE banking records
The UCO has asked the National Court for the PSOE and PSC's banking records from 2024 and 2025 in the Leire Díez case. It is also investigating Gaspar Zarrías and several companies.
-
Spain: 'Leyre case' court documents leak to press and rock the PSOE
The court file in the 'Leyre case' has now reached the press. The accusations point to the PSOE and its irregular funding. Reactions and expectations over the next 72 hours.
-
David Sánchez, Ara Malikian and a job that reeks of cronyism
Pedro Sánchez's brother, David Sánchez, allegedly landed a public post ahead of violinist Ara Malikian. The case is now before the courts.