O´Leary promises biggest ever Ryanair seat sale if Remain wins
Airline boss denies Leave accusations that offer is corrupt
- O'Leary says they wouldn't be where they are without a strong Europe
- Interview with the Independent ahead of Thursday's historic Brexit vote
Updated : 16:45
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has pledged to offer the airline's biggest seat sale on Friday - but only if the Remain campaign emerges victorious.
O'Leary has sparked controversy once again, after his company were investigated last month by the Metropolitan police for offering British residents overseas discounts if they flew home to vote to stay in the EU.
Britons go to the polls tomorrow to decide the future of the state's rleationship with the European bloc, with the most recent numbers suggesting a very close race.
Britons go to the polls tomorrow to decide the future of the state's rleationship with the European bloc
Speaking to The Independent, Michael O´Leary said that the sale will be aimed at a very particular audience.
“It will be particularly aimed at Messrs Johnson, Farage and Gove - the people who really don’t know that much about Europe and need to spend more time abroad.”
“We wouldn’t have grown to the size we’ve grown without Europe, the single market and deregulation. Low fares were brought to you by the single market. What Boris [Johnson] and Michael Gove want to go back to is a Europe when British Airways were charging £800 and only the rich could afford to fly.”
Ryanair, along with other low-fare airlines, have lowered the price of flying during the last 20 years, allowing the market to become much more competitive.
The company was investigated last month by the Met, after “Brexit special” offer that invited British residents overseas to “fly home to vote ‘remain’” in the Referendum for €19.99.
The Vote Leave campaign are unhappy with the promotion, calling it "corrupt" as it was only aimed at one side of the debate.
The Vote Leave campaign are unhappy with the promotion, calling it "corrupt"
Mr O’Leary rejected the suggestion that the conditional offer is illegal, saying: “On Friday it’s after the referendum is over. It’s not bribery as the cheap seats will be available for both people who vote to remain and vote to exit.
"We want to reward everybody. We’re calling for a strong remain vote. We think if there’s a remain vote air fares will fall. Ryanair will invest more in the UK, invest more in jobs and it will be better for Britain generally.”