Ryanair refuses to give up fight for Aer Lingus
Ryanair has confirmed that it will appeal the EU Commission’s decision to reject its latest offer for rival Aer Lingus.
The EU’s move to block Ryanair’s takeover of the former flag carrier was not unexpected and Ryanair announced earlier this month that it had already instructed lawyers to prepare an appeal.
Ryanair’s third offer for Aer Lingus included a proposal to offload about half of the Irish national airline’s short-haul business from Dublin to British Airways and Flybe.
"The history of the EU’s treatment of Ryanair’s two offers for Aer Lingus conclusively proves that this prohibition is a "political" decision to pander to the vested interests of the Irish Government (a minority 25% shareholder in Aer Lingus) and is not one that is based on a fair and reasonable application of EU competition rules or precedent airline merger approvals in Europe," Ryanair said in a statement yesterday.
It is the first time the Commission has twice rejected a proposed takeover, according to news organisation Reuters.
Ryanair added:" It is untenable for the Commission to argue on competition grounds why they have rejected what is an unprecedented and revolutionary remedies package in the Ryanair/Aer Lingus case just months after they had granted phase one approval to a similar IAG/BMI airline merger, which concerned the number one and number two airlines based at the heavily-congested London Heathrow Airport. "
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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