THREE ITALIAN government ministers have called for an investigation into Ryanair following the company’s use on its Italian website of a now infamous picture of Northern League leader and reforms minister Umberto Bossi “giving the finger”.
Mr Bossi’s much-photographed gesture came during a public meeting in Padua 10 days ago and was controversially aimed at the Italian national anthem.
In the Ryanair advertisement, the rude gesture is now aimed at Italians and is allegedly the expression of government contempt for consumers via its continuing underwriting of state-controlled airline Alitalia, currently threatened with bankruptcy.
Headlined “Minister Bossi to Italian passengers” the ad goes on: “The government supports Alitalia’s high fares, supports Alitalia’s frequent strikes and does not give a damn about Italian passengers”.
In a statement yesterday, transport minister Altero Mateoli said he intended to summon ENAC, the civil aviation authority, with a view to taking action “in accordance with existing regulations” against Ryanair.
“It is quite unacceptable and vulgar that a foreign airline company, a guest at our airports and in our air space, should use a government minister in this offensive manner just to generate publicity . . . That Ryanair . . . should now attack both the Italian national carrier and the policies of the Italian government is really too much.”