Ryanair says that its bid for Aer Lingus is the best thing that could ever happen to its fellow Irish carrier
Ryanair says that its bid for Aer Lingus is the best thing that could ever happen to its fellow Irish carrier, especially given the recent open skies deal.
In a typically barn-storming speech to the Ireland Fund of Great Britain this afternoon (27 March), Ryanair CEO, Michael O”Leary took several pot shots at some favourite targets including those at Aer Lingus, the Irish Government and the European Union (EU).
”We recently launched a bid for Aer Lingus and there has been some debate about this in Ireland, which is astonishing,” he said adding: ”It would be the best thing that ever happened to Aer Lingus to have a dose of Ryanair.
”The EU is clearly engaged in potentially trying to obstruct the Aer Lingus/Ryanair transaction, even though they allowed the BA Connect/Flybe and Air France/KLM deals.”
The Ryanair boss claimed that such a merger would reduce Aer Lingus” cost base ” a phrase guaranteed to send jitters through twitchy Irish trade unions, who have already endured considerable upheaval under now-British Airways CEO Willie Walsh.
Warming to his theme, O”Leary continued: ”Aer Lingus is about as relevant as TAP Portugal or Olympic and has the only financial partner it will get. The Irish government does not share our vision but they are not the best transport gurus.”