RYANAIR BOSS MICHAEL O’Leary has urged the UK public to vote to stay in the European Union in the June referendum.

The airline announced today that it will  actively campaign for an ‘In’ vote which would prevent a so-called ‘Brexit’ from the EU.

Ryanair, which employs over 3,000 people across its 13 airport bases in the UK, said that foreign inward investment in the UK will be lost to Ireland and Germany if the UK leaves Europe.

The company said that the free movement of goods and services throughout the 28-member bloc has made the UK “one of Europe’s most competitive and best performing economies”.

It also claimed that the EU open skies has “transformed UK tourism and job creation prospects”.

Despite the voice of support for the EU, Ryanair, never one to pass up a chance to have a dig at bureaucrats, added it is still critical of both the UK and EU “failure to promote low fare tourism growth in areas such as the UK travel tax”.

“Stronger in the EU”

Speaking in London today Michael O’Leary said that the UK’s economy and future growth prospects “are stronger as a member of the European Union than they are outside of the (it)”.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary mugs for the camera AP Photo / Richard Drew AP Photo / Richard Drew / Richard Drew

He added: “Leaving Europe won’t save the UK money or red tape because like Norway the UK will still have to contribute to Europe, and obey its rules if it wants to continue to trade freely with Europe, so it’s clear that UK voters should vote yes to Europe and yes to the reformed Europe, that David Cameron has delivered.”

O’Leary had previously flagged his intent to campaign for an ‘In’ vote, saying Britain is one of the few sensible voices in the EU.

The UK public is due to vote on whether the UK should remain a member of the EU on June 23. British Prime Minister David Cameron is campaign for an ‘In’ vote after recently securing a deal which gives the UK ‘special status’.

Among other concessions, the legally binding agreement grants the UK an exemption from the founding goal of “ever closer union” and concessions on the welfare rights of migrant workers.

Read: Landmark deal reached in Brussels to give UK ‘special status’ in the EU

Read: One of Ireland’s biggest companies really wants the UK to stay in the EU