Pensions issue hangs heavy on airline’s future

Aer Lingus’s future ownership structure could depend as much on the resolution of the proposed takeover of BMI by British Airways owner IAG as it does on the resolution of its €700 million pension deficit.

A successful conclusion of IAG’s BMI deal would give the group — which also owns Spanish carrier Iberia — 56 more slots at Heathrow Airport and would cast doubt over the long-term need of Aer Lingus’s BA partnership.

Aer Lingus chief Christoph Mueller said there are still too many questions to be answered before it is known how Aer Lingus might be affected by such a deal. However, he added that if more slots became available at Heathrow, Aer Lingus would be interested in acquiring some.