Aer Lingus rejects latest hostile Ryanair offer
The Aer Lingus board has unanimously rejected a fresh takeover bid from budget rival Ryanair.
The Irish flag carrier said the £670 million offer “significantly undervalues†Aer Lingus and would see Ryanair establish a monopoly on air travel and connectivity to and from Ireland.
Chairman Colm Barrington and chief executive Dermot Mannion met Irish transport minister Noel Dempsey to outline their opposition to the hostile offer.
Aer Lingus described the Ryanair offer as an effort to “eliminate competition in the Irish market place, which would be a disaster for the government and is unacceptable to both consumers and to the EU Commissionâ€.
Following the meeting, Mannion said: “We had a productive meeting with the Minister and have committed to give the government, as well as all other shareholders, a comprehensive rebuttal of Ryanair’s offer after the publication of its offer document.”
He added: “Ryanair cannot spin away the fact that Aer Lingus is and will continue to be its fiercest competitor into and out of Ireland.
“It is offering other Aer Lingus shareholders a mere €525 million, a pathetic sum in the context of the €1.3 billion in cash on the group’s balance sheet, the substantial value of our fleet and the value of the Heathrow slots.
“Aer Lingus remains a strong business with significant cash reserves and a robust long-term future.
“Despite all of Ryanair’s insincere promises, this offer, if accepted, would be bad for Irish consumers, for Aer Lingus’ shareholders and for everyone who works in the airline.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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