Ryanair CEO sees chairman staying on in near term

GORMANSTON, Ireland (Reuters) - Ryanair's <RYA.I> chief executive said he saw no reason why Chairman David Bonderman would not be in place this time next year but he thought it inevitable that the 75-year-old Bonderman would decide he has had enough in coming years.

Shareholders at the Irish airline expressed their frustration at management on Thursday by re-electing Bonderman by a narrower margin than last year after a year overshadowed by Ryanair's worst-ever strikes.

Bonderman told journalists he thought the criticism of the board was "way off base" but declined to comment on how long he would stay on as chairman.

(Reporting by Conor Humphries, writing by Padraic Halpin; editing by Jason Neely)