Ryanair chief’s face smacked with cake in front of EU Commission

BRUSSELS

Climate activists on Thursday smashed a cake in the face of Ryanair chief Micheal O’Leary in front of the main building of the European Commission.

“Welcome in Belgium. Stop the pollution …,” two activists yelled at O’Leary while smashing a cake in his face.

The owner of Europe’s ultra-low-cost airline was preparing for a press conference and performance in front of the European Commission’s main building with his petition “Stop overflights: keep EU skies open.”

The activists' identities have not yet been revealed, but according to the local newspaper L'Avenir, they are part of the crew of Noel Godin, a Belgian writer and notorious pie-thrower.

Later, the air company posted an ironical message on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying that O’Leary received a “warm welcome in Brussels” and that “passengers so happy with our routes and petition that they’re celebrating with cake.”

The petition, which O’Leary delivered in the end to a life-sized paper cutout of EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, calls on the EU executive body to protect passenger’s rights and allow planes to fly over countries where aviation trade unions hold a strike.

O’Leary’s performance came amid continued protests from Ryanair pilots and employees in Belgium, who are demanding better working conditions.

The Belgium-based workers will strike for better working conditions on Sept. 14-15.