Angry Remainers turn on Brexit-hating Ryanair CEO for offering to fly migrants to Rwanda

By Christian Calgie, Senior Political Correspondent

Michael Portillo slams Ryanair boss about Brexit comments

Furious Remainers and lefties have threatened to boycott Ryanair, after the low-cost airline offered to help the Government deport migrants to Rwanda.

In an interview with Bloomberg yesterday, CEO Michael O’Leary said he would “happily” do the flights provided he had available planes.

He said: “If it was the winter schedule and we had spare aircraft sitting around and if the government were looking for additional deportation flights or any other flights, we would happily quote for the business.”

Despite Mr O’Leary’s previous anti-Brexit statements, Remainers have now turned on him and accused him of being “heartless”.

Swarms of Twitter users weighed in to condemn the airline boss, with many saying they would now boycott the airline.

The Irish multi-millionaire is no stranger to controversy (Image: Getty)

Scottish journalist Neil Drysdale said: “I’ve never travelled by Ryanair. Never liked Michael O’Leary’s schtick as the “small operator” battling the big airlines. And now, he is showing his true colours by signing up to the Rwandan deportation scheme!”

Another user said: “That’s disgusting @Ryanair and I’m flying with you tonight. You should be f***ing ashamed!”

User Iris Duane added: “Any airline that supports this insidious scheme will never see my money. It’s a simple as that”.

User Mike called on his followers to “cancel your Ryanair flights”.

“Because contemplating being on the wrong side of history by offering your services to help the government break international law, is a d**k move.”

The Government hopes to get flights off by the end of the Summer (Image: Getty)

User Kiwifruiter said: “I've held my nose and flown Ryanair before, but it can now go on the list with cruises and Dubai, for things I will never ever entertain for a holiday.”

Mr O’Leary dismissed warnings from the UN that facilitating the removals could be a breach of international law.

His new opponents on the left have performed a major u-turn in their attitudes to the Irish multimillionaire, as just last month he voiced delight at Brexiteers “dying out”.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Irish CEO said he is hopeful about the future as the over-70s who voted for Brexit will “die out in the next 10 or 15 years”, describing the heartless claim as a “good thing”.

He said that while the UK is unlikely to ever fully rejoin the EU, Britain will “rejoin the European single market in the next five to 10 years, in a Swiss-style deal or a Norwegian-style deal”.

At the time, former Tory minister Michael Portillo slapped him down and pointed out: “Brexit was not about the convenience of Ryanair, or even about air passengers!”