Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary hit with cream pies by climate protesters

CEO hit in face with two pies while holding one-man protest in Brussels against air traffic controller strikes

The Ryanair chief executive, Michael O’Leary, got a rude welcome in Brussels when he received two cream pies to the face while standing next to a cardboard cutout of the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen.

The pies were landed by two female environmental activists as O’Leary was holding a one-man protest outside the European Commission against repeated air traffic controllers’ strikes in the EU affecting his low-cost Irish airline, Europe’s biggest by passenger numbers.

“Welcome [to] Belgium,” said one of the activists as she planted a pie in his face, according to video of the scene broadcast by the Belgian news channels LN24 and RTL Info.

“Stop the pollution from planes,” said the other activist as she smeared her pie on O’Leary’s head before both walked off.

The Ryanair boss, who regularly courts publicity, laughed off the stunt, calmly telling an assistant to take his soiled jacket away to be cleaned.

Ryanair’s feed on X, formerly known as Twitter, later posted that O’Leary had received a “warm welcome in Brussels”. “Passengers so happy with our routes and petition that they’re celebrating with cake,” it said.

The activists’ pie protest came as Ryanair pilots in Belgium announced a new strike for 14 and 15 September – their fourth stoppage in two months – over pay and working conditions.