Ryanair News

 
News Release
13.11.09

BA - Iberia Merger Shows The Irish Government Has No Plan And No Vision For Aer Lingus

 
 
Ryanair, Ireland’s favourite airline, today (13th Nov) welcomed the inevitable merger of BA and Iberia to form a 60 million (annual passenger) mega airline, as Europe moves inexorably towards four large airline groups led by Air France, BA, Lufthansa and Ryanair. 
 
In recent years Lufthansa has acquired Swiss, Austrian, SN Brussels Airline and British Midland, as well as a large stake in SAS. Air France has acquired KLM and a large stake in Alitalia. This morning British Airways announced that it will merge with Iberia to form a third big, high fare, fuel surcharging EU airline. While all of these consolidations and mergers are proceeding, Aer Lingus, Ireland’s high fare, loss making, former flag carrier continues to be loss making, and isolated as it is bypassed by the trend of consolidation among high fare European airlines.
 
Ryanair believes that this is because the Irish Government policy has failed Aer Lingus. It is obvious in a Europe, where there is four large airline groups that Aer Lingus needs a strong and stable partner. Since Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa have no interest in the small, peripheral, loss making Aer Lingus, Ryanair believes it is obvious that the future of Aer Lingus can only be secured as part of one strong Irish airline group, led by Ryanair, which is capable of not just competing with Air France, BA and Lufthansa, but of beating them.
 
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:
 
“The Irish Government has no policy, no vision and no clue when it comes to Aer Lingus. The airline continues to lose money and cash, as it continues to be mismanaged by its Government and trade union shareholders, who control the Board and management of the airline. Now Aer Lingus is isolated and being bypassed by the trend of European airline consolidation. Like Olympic and TAP, Aer Lingus remains on the outside, as none of the big three airline groups have any interest in Aer Lingus.
 
“Perhaps in time even the Government and Aer Lingus will begin to realise that the only secure future for Aer Lingus is as part of one strong Irish airline group which is both a world leader and is capable of competing with and beating Air France, BA and Lufthansa. Sadly in the meantime Aer Lingus will continue to be mismanaged by the Govt and unions which control it, and will continue to be isolated and by-passed as Europe’s airlines consolidate.”
 

 

Ryanair footer