LONDON – Irish budget airline Ryanair has agreed to pay libel damages of 50,100 pounds ($64,200) to the founder of rival carrier easyJet after running advertisements picturing him with a long Pinocchio nose.
The settlement was announced in court Thursday.
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou sued Ryanair because of ads which accused him of suppressing weekly reports on easyJet’s on-time performance. One ad, which showed Stelios with a long nose, called on him to “stop hiding the truth.”
Stelios was no longer in management at easyJet, but was a non-executive director and major shareholder.
When Stelios protested, Ryanair ran more ads proposing to settle the issue by a sumo wrestling match or a footrace.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- When Stelios protested, Ryanair ran more ads proposing to settle the issue by a sumo wrestling match or a footrace.
- One ad, which showed Stelios with a long nose, called on him to “stop hiding the truth.
- Stelios was no longer in management at easyJet, but was a non-executive director and major shareholder.