Aer Lingus breached competition law, says Ryanair

RYANAIR has claimed Aer Lingus breached Irish competition law and stock exchange rules by briefing the Government eight weeks before its other shareholders on its decision to axe its flights between Shannon and Heathrow.

Ryanair, which is Aer Lingus’s largest shareholder, yesterday said it had submitted a formal complaint to the Irish Financial Regulatory Services Authority (FSA) about Aer Lingus’s decision to give “selective briefings” to the Department of Transport on June 13, July 31 and August 3.

The airline said the last of those briefings came a full four days before the stock exchange announcement of the route closure on August 7.