Ryanair grab for Aer Lingus must be rejected

The British Competition Commission is investigating Ryanair’s 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus due to competition concerns

RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary’s bid to buy the 70% of Aer Lingus that he does not already own must be resisted and rejected by the Fine Gael/Labour Government, Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald says.

The Dublin deputy says that if Michael O’Leary is successful, Aer Lingus will likely be run as an anti-competitive private monopoly.

The British Competition Commission announced this week its intention to investigate Ryanair’s 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus due to competition concerns.

The Sinn Féin Public Expenditure and Reform spokesperson said:

“The irony, of course, is that Fianna Fáil sold off the original stake in the airline based on an argument that state ownership was anti-competitive. If Ryanair’s bid is successful, Aer Lingus will be run on the basis of an anti-competitive private monopoly.”