Ryanair offers to give up half of Aer Lingus's short-haul slots

Ryanair has offered to give up half of Air Lingus' short haul business to Flybe and British Airways if its takeover of the Irish flag carrier is agreed by the European Commission.


The low cost airline has submitted a revised package to Europe which would include giving up 43 short-haul routes to Flybe while BA-owner International Airlines Group would take Aer Lingus's routes between Ireland and Heathrow, reports Bloomberg.


Aer Lingus currently operates three routes from Heathrow to the Republic of Ireland - to Cork, Dublin and Shannon.


The new concessions are in a bid to get European competition authorities to agree to the takeover.


The EC has until February 27 to deliver its judgment on the proposed deal.


Ryanair already holds a 30pc stake in Aer Lingus.


The European Commission has objected to Ryanair's bid on competition grounds, arguing it creates a monopoly on around 46 routes, and antitrust problems on a further 20.


It prohibited Ryanair's first bid for Aer Lingus in 2006 - and Brussels regulators have never cleared a merger that they previously rejected.


Ryanair, Flybe and IAG declined to comment.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

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