‘We took Aer Lingus as far as we could’

SENIOR management at Aer Lingus resigned as they believed their plans for the airline were losing support and they felt they “had brought Aer Lingus as far as they could”, it has emerged.

The Department of Transport said yesterday significant progress would be made before Christmas on the future of the airline and a cabinet sub-committee is due to meet today to look at the options open to the company before reporting to the Government.

The shock resignations last week of Aer Lingus CEO Willie Walsh, Chief Operating Officer, Seamus Kearney and Brian Dunne, Chief Financial Officer has put mounting pressure on the Government to decide whether future expansion of the airline will be achieved thorough privatisation or further Government investment.