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Ryanair is banning reporters from the annual meeting of its shareholders next week, while executives are likely to grill about a year marked by pilot strikes and rising costs.
The cheap European airline normally admits the media to the meeting, and then often organizes an information meeting for journalists with CEO Michael O 'Leary and other senior executives.
Ryanair (RYAAY) announced Monday that there would be "no press invited or admitted to the meeting and no point of press after". The airline said it wanted to "allow shareholders to freely discuss all matters with the board without these discussions being distorted for public relations purposes."
A spokesperson did not answer the follow-up questions.
There is no law requiring companies to open their shareholder meetings to the media, although most publicly traded companies do so. But by preventing journalists, Ryanair may increase the conversation around his recent problems.
Its shares have lost 30% since their peak in July 2017.
The airline is known for its exceptional prices and its dozens of extra charges for everything from luggage to water in the cabin.
O 'Leary has the reputation of being a media expert, but also making controversial statements, for example by suggesting fees for using the bathroom on board, or by raising the possibility of standing tickets. At the 2013 shareholders' meeting, he said he wanted to improve Ryanair's image and customer relationship.
This year, Ryanair has encountered difficulties related to the sharp rise in fuel costs and strikes by air traffic controllers and pilots.
It has agreements with unions in some countries, but disputes with staff continue to simmer elsewhere. On Monday, the German Union of Pilots on Wednesday called for a 24-hour strike for Ryanair flights from Germany.
Ryanair said last month that its compensation costs for customers from April to June were 40% higher than those of the same period last year due to several thousand cancellations of flights and the increased propensity of passengers to claim compensation.
Last month, the airline apologized after nearly 200 passengers received unsigned clearing checks they could not file.
CNNMoney (London) First published on September 11, 2018: 8h41
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