Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary has paid tribute to Niki Lauda who has died aged 70.
Lauda was an airline entrepreneur who launched Lauda Air in 1979 and sold it 30 years later to Austrian Airlines.
The Austrian sometimes surprised passengers by flying the planes himself.
In 2003 he founded his second airline, Niki, which merged with Air Berlin but was eventually bought back by Lauda, rebranded as Laudamotion, and sold to Ryanair in April 2018.
Lauda had a lung transplant last August and was hospitalised in January for about 10 days while suffering from influenza. He died on Monday.
Paying tribute, O’Leary said: "Niki Lauda will remain in our heart and our memory as a visionary leader, a legend of Formula 1 and an aviation pioneer.
"Niki was an exceptional entrepreneur whose courage and fighting spirit inspired millions. While we are devastated at his untimely passing, his spirit and vision will live on in Laudamotion, which proudly carries his name and his entrepreneurial spirit. It’s a sad day for Formula 1 and Laudamotion.
"Niki’s spirit and his legacy will live on forever. Niki and his family are all in our thoughts and prayers today. May he rest in peace."
