Company Directory - Ryanair Holdings plc
Company Details - Ryanair Holdings plc

Ryanair Holdings plc
WebsiteSwords, Ireland
ISIN: IE0006103130
Ryanair is an Irish low-cost airline known for its competitive fares and extensive network across Europe. The airline started offering low-cost flights to Barcelona in 2010 and has grown to become one of Europe’s largest carriers, operating scheduled passenger flights on a no-frills model.
CCI Score
CCI Score: Ryanair Holdings plc
-20.83
0.09%
Latest Event
Ryanair & Danish Labour Court
On 20 May, the Danish Labour Court is set to rule on a conflict between Ryanair and local aircrew unions. Ryanair has refused to negotiate a general labour agreement with both pilots and cabin crew while employing atypical, cost-cutting employment practices. This approach undermines fair labor standards and workers’ rights, raising concerns about the airline’s commitment to ethical labor practices.
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ACCOMPLICE
Ryanair Holdings plc is currently rated as an Accomplice.
Latest Events
- MAY202025
On 20 May, the Danish Labour Court is set to rule on a conflict between Ryanair and local aircrew unions. Ryanair has refused to negotiate a general labour agreement with both pilots and cabin crew while employing atypical, cost-cutting employment practices. This approach undermines fair labor standards and workers’ rights, raising concerns about the airline’s commitment to ethical labor practices.
-75
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
March 22
Ryanair’s refusal to engage in collective bargaining in Denmark, combined with its heavy reliance on atypical employment arrangements such as self-employed pilots and temporary contracts, significantly undermines workers' rights. Their approach not only diminishes union influence but also contributes to an environment conducive to exploitative practices, which aligns with broader patterns of corporate behavior that facilitate authoritarian economic control.
- JAN012025
Unions allege that Ryanair is violating labour laws by deterring workers from striking, a claim which the company denies. These allegations point to potential exploitation of workers and a disregard for fair labor practices, contributing to an environment where corporate interests undermine labor rights.
-50
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
January 1
The article reports that unions claim Ryanair has breached labor laws by discouraging strikes, implying a neglect of worker rights. This conduct is emblematic of anti-worker practices that not only harm labor relations but also contribute indirectly to authoritarian frameworks by weakening organized labor, which is a key pillar against autocratic practices.
- OCT042024
The Data Protection Commission has initiated an EU-wide investigation into Ryanair's use of facial recognition for verifying customer identity, raising concerns about potential GDPR violations and unethical data practices, especially when bookings are made through third-party sites.
-20
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 22
Ryanair's biometric verification process for customers booking via third-party platforms has sparked complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Although the airline argues that the process is necessary for security, concerns remain regarding its ethical implications and compliance with GDPR, suggesting a lack of commitment to protecting customer privacy.
Ryanair’s use of facial recognition technology investigated by data regulator
-40
Technology and Services Impact
March 22
The use of facial recognition technology for customer verification raises significant concerns about the deployment of invasive biometric surveillance. This practice, under investigation by the regulatory authorities, risks normalizing repressive technologies that undermine privacy rights, contributing to broader authoritarian trends in corporate practices.
Ryanair’s use of facial recognition technology investigated by data regulator
- JUL012024
Ryanair's active employment of a Director of Public Affairs, who dedicates about 50% of his time to EU-related activities, suggests a strategic utilization of lobbying to influence policy decisions. This engagement raises concerns about the prioritization of corporate interests over democratic accountability, with potential implications for supporting authoritarian regulatory frameworks.
-50
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
March 22
The company's reliance on a high-level public affairs team, as evidenced by a Director of Public Affairs spending significant time on EU activities, demonstrates a strategic effort to shape political decision-making. Such lobbying practices can undermine democratic processes by giving undue influence to corporate interests, aligning with anti-democratic or authoritarian outcomes.
- AUG012023
Ryanair, historically known for its anti-union stance, has recently reversed course by signing multiple union recognition agreements with unions in the UK, Italy, and Ireland. This move enables staff to collectively bargain and improves conditions, marking an important step towards better labor relations and reduced corporate complicity in oppressive practices.
+80
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
March 22
The union recognition agreements represent a significant policy reversal for Ryanair, a company with a prior record of resisting unionization. By recognizing unions for its cabin crew and pilots, Ryanair has taken a positive step towards improving labor rights and worker representation, which is fundamentally opposed to the suppression of worker voices often seen in authoritarian and fascist-aligned corporate practices. This development supports a fairer working environment and resists exploitation under late stage capitalism.
- JUL272023
Ryanair Holdings plc is facing a lawsuit filed by the European Center for Digital Rights (Noyb) over its practice of requiring customers booking through third‐party agents to undergo facial recognition identity verification. The process, which involves outsourcing to a third-party firm (GetID), is alleged to violate EU GDPR protections and expose customers to significant privacy risks, raising serious ethical concerns about the company’s business practices.
-40
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 22
Ryanair’s mandated use of facial recognition technology for identity verification in bookings, especially when facilitated through unknown third-party agents, raises significant ethical concerns. The practice is seen as coercive and a potential violation of customer privacy rights under GDPR, reflecting poorly on its business practices and ethical responsibility.
Ryanair Hit With Lawsuit Over Use of Facial Recognition Technology
-30
Technology and Services Impact
March 22
The rollout of facial recognition technology by Ryanair, particularly when outsourced to an external vendor, poses significant privacy risks. This technology, while intended for identity verification, could be exploited for unauthorized surveillance, reflecting a troubling trend in the deployment of advanced technologies that may pave the way for repressive practices.
Ryanair Hit With Lawsuit Over Use of Facial Recognition Technology
- JUN272023
Ryanair Holdings plc launched a petition aimed at pressuring the EU to force France to allow flights during ATC strikes, reflecting a strategic use of political influence to undermine the right to strike and labor protections for the benefit of profit, raising concerns about the company’s political behavior and ethical business practices.
-70
Public and Political Behavior
March 22
Ryanair actively engaged in a politically charged campaign by leveraging a petition to influence EU policy on strike actions. This move, coupled with its alignment with broader lobbying efforts such as participating in Airlines for Europe, underscores an abuse of political power that undermines democratic rights. Such tactics, which mobilize mass consumer participation to legitimize corporate agendas, contribute to an erosion of public trust and democratic processes, aligning closely with authoritarian practices.
-60
Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility
March 22
By pushing a petition that seeks to constrain the ability of air traffic control workers to strike, Ryanair demonstrates a disregard for ethical labor practices and workers' rights. This maneuver, aimed at safeguarding profitability at the expense of fair labor standards, reveals an alarming entanglement of corporate profit strategies with political maneuvering to undermine established labor protections.
- OCT212018
Ryanair has reached several agreements on working conditions with pilot unions across several European countries. These agreements, reached on October 21, 2018, represent a positive step towards improving labor rights for pilots and cabin crew, ensuring contracts align with the local legislation of respective countries instead of Ireland's. This marks a significant initiative in bolstering worker rights, although further improvements may be necessary to fully address the demands of all unionized workers.
+80
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
March 22
The event reflects a positive development in labor rights, as Ryanair has reached agreements with pilot unions to improve working conditions. This move supports fair labor practices and enhances the rights of employees by aligning contracts with national labor legislation, signaling a constructive response to union demands. While this is a step in the right direction, ongoing efforts will be required to fully meet worker expectations.
Ryanair reaches agreements on working conditions with pilot unions
- MAR022016
In 2016, Ryanair faced scrutiny for evading Ireland's lobbying transparency rules by claiming its interactions with officials were conducted as part of an industry association membership rather than as corporate engagements. This strategy has raised concerns about undermining public accountability in political advocacy.
-50
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
March 22
Ryanair leveraged its membership in a European aviation industry association to sidestep Ireland’s lobbying disclosure laws, thereby reducing transparency over its direct engagements with government officials. This tactic undermines public trust and accountability in corporate political behavior, contributing negatively to democratic scrutiny.
-30
Executive Political Engagement
March 22
Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, participated in politically charged events under the guise of representing an industry association rather than acting in his official capacity, thereby reducing direct accountability for his corporate political engagements. This obfuscation contributes negatively to perceptions of executive political involvement.
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Industries
- 481111
- Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
- 481112
- Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
- 488119
- Other Airport Operations