Aer Lingus remains confident that Ryanair take-over bid will fail

Aer Lingus spokespersons have publicly stated that the company remains confident that rival Ryanair’s attempts to take-over Ireland’s flagship carrier will end in failure. Ryanair has lodged an appeal against the European Commission’s (EC) decision, after the EU body rejected the carrier’s bid to take-over Aer Lingus earlier this year. The EC brought its decision in an effort to ensure that no airline can stifle competition in a given market. According to the EC, consumers would have to pay higher airfares and they would have fewer options at their disposal if Ryanair gained access to the routes operated by Aer Lingus, and thus developed what one might term as a stranglehold on the Irish domestic market. Aer Lingus fully backed the EC’s decision. The Commission specifically expressed concern over the fate of 22 routes, where Ryanair would enjoy a virtual monopoly.

Ryanair’s appeal has been submitted to the European Court, situated in Luxembourg, where deliberations will take place over the coming months. The Irish low-cost carrier has argued that rather than increasing prices, a take-over of the company would have the effect of almost immediately reducing fares on a number of routes operated by Aer Lingus. According to both the EC and the Irish flag carrier, a potential Ryanair take-over would negatively impact up to 14 million European passengers who use this carrier on an annual basis. For its part, Ryanair has tried to modify its take-over bid and subsequent plans in order to satisfy the EC, but thus far these efforts have been in vain.

www.aerlingus.com