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Ryanair could embark on its biggest free seat giveaway ever over the coming days in a major PR offensive to counter a BBC Panorama exposé.

The Irish airline has pledged to give away 100,000 free seats, with no taxes or charges, "for every false claim" made in the BBC One programme, aired on Monday night.

It has dismissed the documentary, which focuses on the airline's passenger charges and cost-cutting tactics, as a "hatchet job".
 
Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's outspoken chief executive, is understood to be incensed that he was denied the chance to give an unedited interview.

As well as looking into Ryanair's cost-charging structure for passengers, which was criticised by the Office of Fair Trading earlier this year for not being clear enough, the programme also examines the airline's dealings with airport operators and aircraft manufacturers.

Last week Ryanair published its correspondence with the Panorama team over the programme, in which Mr O'Leary sent an email to reporter Vivian White, accusing him of becoming "ever more bizarre and desperate" in his research.

However, the reporter did reveal the fact that cabin crew are required to pay £300 for their uniform during their first year working for the company, only being repaid after 12 months' service.

But Stephen McNamara, a Ryanair spokesman, said: "We know of one false claim already: they are going to accuse Michael of being a bully.

"After that we will give away 100,000 free seats for every false claim they make."

The seats will be offered from UK airports across Ryanair's European network, to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in November and December.

Mr McNamara said more than 10 false claims – as determined by Ryanair – would see it become the airline's biggest giveaway ever. Recently it gave away one million free seats for flights into Ireland, to mark the Lisbon Treaty referendum.

A BBC spokesman said: "I don't think you will find any false claims in the programme."

On its refusal to grant Mr O'Leary an unedited interview, he said: "No broadcaster could give up editorial control."

From The Telegraph