Airline considers strategic options
Aer Lingus is considering seeking an alliance with one of its larger European rivals, reports said today (April 7).
The troubled Irish carrier, which has fended off two takeover attempts by Ryanair in recent years, is said to be consulting its financial advisor Goldman Sachs.
Strategic options could include the opening of "protective alliance" talks with Air France KLM, Lufthansa and British Airways, a Financial Times report said.
Aer Lingus was unavailable for comment.
The resignation of Aer Lingus' ceo Dermot Mannion this week came after the airline announced a €98m loss for 2008 and a predicted a deficit for the current year.
During Mr Mannion's four years as ceo he fought a pitched battle against two takeover attempts from Ryanair.
The most recent bid saw Ryanair, already a 29% stakeholder in Aer Lingus, offer €748m for the remaining stake.
Ryanair attacked Aer Lingus at the time claiming it would not acknowledge an industry trend toward consolidation.
www.aerlingus.com