EC could rule early on Ryanair bid

THE European Commission (EC) could deliver its long-awaited ruling on Ryanair’s proposed takeover of Aer Lingus later this month and earlier than originally planned.

The latest deadline for its decision has been marked down for July 4, but according to sources, the EC could make a ruling at its commissioners meeting on June 27.

While the feeling in Brussels is that the commission is still gearing up to reject the idea of the takeover; there is also a belief too that the EC may try to force Ryanair to sell its 25% stake in Aer Lingus.

Representatives of the competition authorities of each EU member state met in Brussels yesterday at a specially held Advisory Committee meeting to voice their opinions to the commission after using the last 10 days or so to digest in full its various findings.

Ryanair has already offered a number of ‘remedies’ to matters which the EC saw as being potentially anti-competitive — mainly concerning an overlap of slots at airports where both airlines were heavily active (Ryanair has offered to hand over existing Aer Lingus slots at both Heathrow and Dublin Airports to rival airlines).

Last week, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said the airline would take legal action if the commission decided to block the bid or force Ryanair to sell its stake in Aer Lingus.