Stuck in the departures lounge: it's something air travellers know too well.

And right now, so might Ryanair ops chief Peter Bellew.

The Irish carrier was heading to court on Tuesday to try to prevent him from moving to easyJet.

Or at least, moving there straight away.

Bellew's due to leave Ryanair at the end of the year -- to take up a new post as easyJet's chief operations officer.

But Ryanair says all top execs are barred by contract from joining a competitor for 12 months.

And boss Michael O'Leary has said the timing's sensitive.

Because of the problems with Boeing's grounded 737 Max jets -- which have slowed down Ryanair's growth plans.

Bellew left his role as boss of Malaysia Airlines to return to Ryanair two years ago.

And raised his public profile when tackling Ryanair's first ever strikes.

His background had many tipping him as a future Ryanair chief executive -- a role he is now perhaps eyeing at easyJet.

If he can get there.