Aer Lingus ‘won’t survive’ downturn

RYANAIR chief executive Michael O’Leary says he should be allowed to buy Irish rival Aer Lingus as the smaller airline won’t survive a downturn in the aviation industry.

European aviation will be dominated by five carriers within five year and Aer Lingus will eventually be acquired British Airways, Air France-KLM or Deutsche Lufthansa AG, O’Leary told a parliamentary committee in Dublin.

Ryanair’s bid for Aer Lingus in 2006 was blocked by EU antitrust regulators.