Ryanair Downplays Aer Lingus Share Threat

The announcement on Monday that Aer Lingus will appeal to the European Court to force Ryanair to dispose of its 29% shareholding in Aer Lingus was downplayed by the budget-airline, pointing out that the European Commission recently confirmed that, since Ryanair has neither de facto nor de jure control over Aer Lingus, there are no legal grounds for such a compulsory disposal.

According to a statement from Ryanair: "[The airline's] lack of control or influence over Aer Lingus was recently highlighted by the two separate refusals by the Aer Lingus Board to hold an EGM at the request of Ryanair to allow shareholders to consider Aer Lingus's abandonment of its profitable Shannon-Heathrow route. Ryanair has no doubt that this appeal will be dismissed."