Aer Lingus rejects fresh bid from IAG
Aer Lingus has rejected a higher offer from British Airways parent IAG.
IAG confirmed a revised bid was made on December 29 but was rejected by the Aer Lingus Board.
The proposal consisted of a cash offer of €2.40 per Aer Lingus share, subject to certain pre-conditions.
The original offer for €2.30 per Aer Lingus share was also dismissed as too low.
"There can be no certainty that any further proposal or offer will be forthcoming," said IAG.
A takeover would give IAG crucial take-off and landing slots at Heathrow but it would need the approval of Ryanair, which owns 29.9% of the company and has failed several times to take it over.
It would also need the backing from the Irish government, which owns 25% of Aer Lingus.
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh joined BA from Aer Lingus in 2005 and set up IAG six years later when BA merged with Iberia. It has since acquired Vueling.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026