Now listen Michael - this is not an anti-Ryanair feature. We are not anti-Ryanair or anti-no frills airlines.

In fact, I think you and Ryanair have been the single most important factor in reshaping travel in the past 15 years. There, now take that as a compliment.

You shattered the sky-high price cartels of legacy airlines like Iberia and BA and have driven down prices to virtually nothing for a seat, while developing a business-model that charges for 'extras.'

You have made flying a simple commodity, enabling all to travel. You are adored by millions, particularly holiday home owners and those with family abroad.

When it works, it's brilliant. But when it doesn't work, it can be horrible. There are tales of no help, no hotels, no refunds and little customer care. No regrets and no apology - and that has earned you millions of detractors and a lot of headlines.

Anne McElvenny of Glasgow summed it up back in 2002: "On September 21, I sent you an e-mail about the media campaign against Ryanair. At the time I was singing its praises. Now I must retract that letter and eat a large piece of humble pie. On October 5, we were left stranded at Hahn for two days. I'll not bore you with the whole sorry saga, but I felt I had to write and apologise for my earlier comments."

And then there are the 'extras' which rile so many passengers, from charges for wheelchairs to baby cots, from self check-in to bungled priority boarding and £2.50 cups of tea.

So, with no apology and no regrets, here are some of the best headlines your and the airline have created this decade, with rants and raves from all quarters to the fore.

We wonder what the next 40 will be....

Today!
Ryanair calls bloggers 'idiots and lunatics'
Ryanair slams 'Thomas Crooks' for overcharging

2009
Stranded by Ryanair: the rant that became a book
Ryanair closes check-in desks
Mobile phones take off on Ryanair
Old newspapers on Ryanair

2008:
Michael O'Leary - rebel with a cause (profile)
Ryanair's £16 debit charge
Ryanair - only five airlines will survive in Europe
Ryanair hits back over oxygen failure claims during mid-air emergency
Ryanair would have made Eve pay for her own apple
Ryanair risks big fine over adverts
Ryanair ordered to pay damages to steel band ‘terrorists’ thrown off jet

2007
Ryanair chief flies into a rage over green taunts
A fair price for Ryanair fares?
Booted off a Ryanair flight with the wrong ID
Is Ryanair the least family friendly airline?
Ryanair sues Europe over airline state aid
ASA ruling over Ryanair's claim that plane beats train
Ryanair drops ‘1p flight’ before it is outlawed by EC
Ryanair denies uses faulty scales to weigh baggage

2006
Yes, you with the double buggy. If you want to see your kids again, cough up...
Travel light or pay warns Ryanair
Ryanair's £61.84 flight to Berlin (excluding 1p airfare)
Ryanair sues government as a million face delay
Ryanair's wheelchair levy 'covers fuel costs'
O'Leary: when I stuff BA, I'll quit

2005
Ryanair apology for ejecting eight blind passengers
There's method in O'Leary madness says professor
Ryanair tops BA as Europe's most popular airline
I'm going by 2008 says O'Leary

2004
Ryanair price hike after losing wheelchair ruling
Ryanair lottery sidesteps UK gambling laws
Ryanair says you can go on holiday with nothing but hand luggage. Who are they kidding?
Fasten your seatbelt - it's a marketing ad from Ryanair
Belgians revise laws to save Ryanair flights

2003
Ryanair says it cares for you

2002
Ryanair tops list of shame
Cost of flying to Europe drops a record 22 per cent
BA v low-costs: now it's war

Money Central: 20 reasons never to fly Ryanair

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