Madam, – Charles Breslin (January 12th) queries the Tricolour on Ryanair aircraft.
These flags are correctly placed on aircraft in order to suggest forward movement. Air Force One also follows this international principle, as does the Irish Government jet.
Ryanair is proud to display the Tricolour in this forward-moving, forward-thinking way.
While Ryanair moves forward, however, the Irish Government continues to deter the world’s tourists from visiting Ireland with its “arseways” policy of hitting them with a €10 tourist tax and imposing a 40 per cent increase in airport charges. While this skyway robbery continues, sadly your reader will see far fewer Ryanair jets proudly displaying the Tricolour at Irish airports in 2010. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I’m sure there are plenty of witty possible explanations as to why why the Tricolour is flying “arseways” on one side of Ryanair aircraft. The answer is that all aircraft show the flag as if the flagpole was nearest the front, with the “wind” blowing it towards the rear.
Hence the flag on the right side of the aircraft looks back-to-front. In the context of recent delays, maybe it would be better to show the flag hanging lifelessly while passengers waited for the snow to be cleared. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I’m sure Charles Breslin is not the only person concerned about “back-to-front” Tricolours on Ryanair aircraft.
A reversed Irish Tricolour is identical to the flag of Ivory Coast.
It must warm the hearts of Ivorians to see that they own the starboard half of Mr O’Leary’s fleet. – Yours, etc,