Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary owns taxi company with only one licensed car for very clever reason
Ryanair is known for its cheap fares and range of routes, but where did the idea come from?
While the airline was founded in 1984 as a small company flying one route, it is now Europe's largest carrier.
The company rebranded in 1990 as 'Europe's first low fares airline', thanks to the involvement of then CFO, Michael O'Leary.
Now the Group CEO, his idea came from US low-cost operators with Ryanair becoming a simple, easy-to-travel airline that would give anyone the opportunity to jet overseas.
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The airline only has one type of aircraft and a simple check-in process, and though all of these factors may be convenient, many don't really associate Ryanair with luxury, but with cost-cutting and affordability.
But the inspiration behind the company's mission, O'Leary, has always looked for ways to cost cut, even away from the travel business.
Back in the early 2000s, the Irish businessman reportedly bought a taxi license plate for his Mercedes-Benz S-Class under the name 'O'Leary Cabs, meaning that it could be recognised as a taxi.
As well as this, the vehicle could utilise Dublin's bus lanes to make his journeys around the capital quicker, with reports suggesting that he even hired his own driver.
While this sounds on brand with the budget-focused approach of Ryanair, you may think that this is a step too far, even for O'Leary.
But back in 2003, the Ryanair CEO appeared on RTÉ Radio to defend his use of the taxi to host Joe Duffy, report the Irish Times.
He claimed that he fully complied with regulations regarding taxis, as the Irish Transport Minister would later call him and others out for abusing the laws in place.
"It's a black taxi, it's registered in Mullingar, I've a PSV driver who drives it for me and if they want to amend the regulations which says I'm allowed to pick up people in Dublin I'll be happy to pick up people in Dublin - I'll do it a lot cheaper," he claimed.
O'Leary went on to say that this was the wrong issue to worry about at the time, with a crisis in the health service and a war in Iraq ensuing.
"Michael O' Leary's taxi is capable of exciting everybody," he added.
The CEO explained: "The problem appears to be that it's alright if I rent a taxi but if I own a taxi there's a problem.
"It produces receipts as well. And if you're in Mullingar give me a call I'd be happy to look after you," he said on the air.
Claiming that the fare from Mullingar to Dublin Airport would set you back €82 (£68) at the time, he said that Ryanair 'would entertain' mileage allowances such as this.
He said that his reason far staying so far from the airport is because he doesn't 'go near the city centre of Dublin.'
Joshua Nair