Aer Lingus will not appeal debate ruling

AER Lingus will not be appealing a decision by the Irish Takeover Panel to cancel a hotly anticipated head-to-head debate between its chief executive and Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary.

The airline executives were due to debate Ryanair’s hostile takeover bid for the state airline on RTÉ’s Prime Time last night but the Irish Takeover Panel (ITP) issued direction yesterday for the two not to participate in the programme as it would, it said be in breach of rules.

Both airlines are understood to be furious at the canceling of the debate.