More like this
Panorama v Ryanair: a PR victory for the airline
Bloggers attack the BBC for wasting Panorama documentary on well-worn Ryanair moans
BBC Television is already facing questions this week over who is going to pay for the policing of its upcoming recording of Question Time, when anti-racism protestors are due to picket the appearance of the ultra-right BNP leader Nick Griffin. Now it faces more awkward questions over the wisdom of devoting Panorama on Monday to the rather tame subject of whether Ryanair passengers love or hate the budget airline.
Whether the majority of BBC news executives saw it as a hard-hitting expose is uncertain. At least one moaned off the record to The First Post: "It revealed nothing astonishing, no evil practices. It just told us what we all know already - that flying Ryanair is a pain, but it's affordable."
What has become clear, now that the dust has settled, is that the airline's ebullient Irish boss, Michael O'Leary, saw it simply as half-an-hour's free publicity, as did many bloggers responding to the Monday night programme.
"BBC's Panorama targeting Ryanair managed to say they have tip-top fleet, pay pilots well and you can actually fly for pennies. Free 30min ad," said rafski on Twitter.
"Well done Ryanair for 30 min advert on BBC," said another Twitter user, aptmilpalmeras.
As for the notoriously thick-skinned O'Leary, he said: "We'd like to thank BBC Panorama for giving us this heaven-sent publicity opportunity during one of the shittiest times of the year."
O'Leary has been at loggerheads with BBC execs ever since the documentary was mooted and O'Leary was invited to appear. However, he insisted on any interview being run un-cut - a preposterous notion which the BBC turned down.
The Irishman then fired several shots across the corporation's bows in the run-up to the programme's airing, including a demand to know why the Panorama team had not flown to Dublin by Ryanair.
"If you are investigating Ryanair, the least you can do is bloody fly on us to interview me," he said. "This is why the BBC finances are in such a mess. They prefer to have their fries and sausages with the two other people flying on the route with British Midland."
Daily Telegraph business columnist Tracy Corrigan writes: "Ryanair's response to the programme which seemed a pretty balanced portrait to me was to launch an offer of 1.1m free flights. In short, it was another O'Leary triumph. 'We've a bundle of tickets to shift in November/December,' he owned up cheerfully." ·
Comments are now closed on this article
Comments
O'Leary is a PR expert, Panorama made a damp squib... Channel four's show "Ryanair Caught Napping" is really showing how O'Leary runs his business, how he puts pressure on cabin crew and pilots, how it could be dangerous flying Ryanair one day.
Ryanair is not brilliant - it is uncomfortable and actually quite expensive. I fly airlines like FlyBe and get allocated seats, pleasant staff and efficient service - almost always for very similar or cheaper rates than Ryanair or Easyjet can offer - it just takes a tiny bit more effort. O'Leary is a classic example of selfish, arrogant, modern business attitudes - the sort that brought about the credit crunch. I'm sure he is doing just fine on the profits!
Ryanair is a pain in the neck. I do one round trip a year each summer with them only because it is the least worst way to get to my destination in France. It would be much cheaper and more convenient to drive there and I'm tempted to do that or go by train next year. The rest of the time I book bargain city breaks elsewhere with Lastminute etc and it is such a pleasure to fly with proper airlines. I don't care about whether food is served, but it's so nice to check in hold luggage without being charged extra, or having to buy a specially tiny carry-on bag that is all Ryanair allows.
Ryanair is BRILLIANT !
I have used them for over ten years and they have rescheduled only ONE flight in around 40 flights.that is good in my book.