Aer Lingus rejects Ryanair complaints

AER LINGUS has written to shareholder and long-time rival Ryanair to reject the latter’s complaints that it is “continually ignored” by the Aer Lingus board, the latest in a long-running war of words between the two airlines.

In a letter sent to Ryanair and released yesterday, Aer Lingus said Ryanair was a source of concern to other investors and welcomed its recent statement that it would be prepared to sell its 30% stake in Aer Lingus if the Government found a buyer for the state’s 25% holding.

“One of the greatest concerns that we hear from shareholders relates to Ryanair’s shareholding in the company and its impact on the company’s options and value. As such, we welcome your recent statements that Ryanair would be prepared to dispose of its shareholding in Aer Lingus,” chairman Colm Barrington wrote in the letter.