Deja vu battle for O'Leary at Buzz

CURRENT ACCOUNT: Predictable as were the threats by Ryanair to shut down Buzz just days after its acquisition, they indicate…

CURRENT ACCOUNT: Predictable as were the threats by Ryanair to shut down Buzz just days after its acquisition, they indicate the airline will have a challenge on its hands integrating the KLM subsidiary.

Michael O'Leary wants to cut 100 jobs from Buzz and establish Ryanair work practices among the remaining 470. This might well be the most difficult aspect of the Buzz deal.

Despite calming words from O'Leary's subordinates that closure was an unlikely eventuality, the carrier might have to fight again a battle long won in its core operation.

And if mutterings in political circles are anything to go by, Ryanair might have another battle on its hands over its failure to refund landing tax to no-show passengers. Refunds have never been top priority at Ryanair, which claims to be the people's champion, but this seems a step too far.

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Aer Rianta, which has a difficult history with Ryanair, claims the budget carrier adds €27 million (a figure disputed by Ryanair) to the bottom line by holding on to unpaid tax and charges.

This seems extraordinarily mean-minded from an airline that reported record post-tax profits of €43.2 million in its last quarter. If the airline is effectively an agent of the State when collecting passengers' tax, questions must be asked about the propriety of holding onto the money if liability for the tax does not arise.