Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has defended his use of the phrase "high-fare rapists" to describe competitor airlines, telling reporters ahead of the company's annual general meeting in Dublin on Thursday that the terminology was "absolutely" appropriate.

Speaking to journalists at Ryanair's headquarters in Dublin, O'Leary targeted major European carriers including Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, and British Airways over rising ticket prices. He claimed that higher fares at rival airlines would ultimately push price-conscious passengers toward Ryanair's lower-cost services.

During the briefing, O'Leary was challenged on whether using such language was offensive to survivors of sexual violence. He responded that he would "happily offend" the competitor airlines involved. When further pressed on whether the comparison trivialised sexual assault, the airline chief reiterated his stance, maintaining that the description applied to high-fare carriers operating across Europe.

The remarks came as shareholders gathered for Ryanair's annual general meeting, where executive commentary on pricing competition and passenger growth forms a core component of the business address.