In an aviation industry full of broken promises and hidden costs, one company has managed to turn a bold vision into reality. As an internationally recognised artist, I have flown countless times in recent years. My testimony is unwavering: Ryanair has always been a reliable travel partner. From professional pilots to smiling cabin crew, this is the story of a company that has changed the way we think about travelling.

Donia Star (Doinita Miculescu Tomeci – Romania & Belgium / Editorial by Donia Star)

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When your professional life depends on a handbag that is always packed and a passport close at hand, you quickly learn that an aircraft becomes a second home. As a fashion designer, I have had the privilege of presenting my work at major exhibitions around the world, while also getting to know air travel at close quarters. Over the years, while seeing expensive airlines cancel flights without notice or treat passengers with cold indifference, I have found a reassuring constant: Ryanair.

Many people associate low-cost flights with a test of endurance. That is far from the experience I have had. My recent flight from Bucharest to Brussels on 30 October was, in fact, a lesson in professionalism and a wonderful example of an airline operating to a high standard.

Professionalism from the ground to the sky

I must say that over the years I have witnessed safety procedures being followed with admirable rigour. Ryanair pilots are, without exception, exceptional professionals. They are calm and communicative, and inspire the confidence that lets you forget you are thousands of metres above the ground.

And the cabin crew deserves special mention. I have flown with many airlines, but rarely encountered a team so friendly, warm and attentive. On this recent flight, the cabin crew were absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere was so relaxed that we took a smiling photograph together at the end. They are not simply employees doing a job; they understand that people, not just tickets, are travelling.

Punctuality, a rare virtue

If there is one thing I particularly appreciate about Ryanair, it is respect for passengers’ time. Over the years, I have rarely experienced major delays or cancellations attributable to the airline. When cancellations have occurred, they have been linked to external factors such as strikes or extreme weather—circumstances no airline can control.

What happens when such an incident does occur? This is where Ryanair won me over: problems have been easy to resolve. On several occasions I have needed to change a flight or request compensation. Everything was handled quickly and transparently, without exhausting bureaucratic battles. In a world where customers are often left to fend for themselves, Ryanair has shown that efficiency can go hand in hand with excellent assistance.

A visionary’s idea: “Planes like buses”

To understand why Ryanair works so well today, it is worth remembering its origins. It was among the world’s first low-cost airlines, perhaps the first. I clearly remember a fascinating moment when the company’s young chief executive, Michael O’Leary, appeared on Belgian television.

His idea sounded almost crazy: aircraft would operate like buses. They would arrive, take passengers from point A to point B, refuel and set off again. No extravagance, no unnecessary luxury—just efficiency. People laughed. Today, that young visionary has shown that the idea was right. He democratised air travel, turning what had once been an inaccessible luxury into an option for millions.

Conclusion

In an industry where arrogance and hidden charges are often part of the picture, Ryanair shows that a business can be profitable and efficient while remaining attentive to people. My flight from Bucharest to Brussels was a wonderful journey and a reminder that simple things—a friendly crew, an on-time flight and a promise kept—often matter most.

I am an artist who lives to see the world. For years, Ryanair has been, and remains, one of my most trusted travel partners. Thank you for your professionalism and for the smiles you bring to the skies every day, at 10,000 metres.