Airline urges State to release stake

Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Mueller has said he would prefer if the Government released its 25% stake in the former state airline on to the open market.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Mueller said he didn’t have a preferred bidder for the Government’s stake but added: “I would prefer if the Government would place their stake on the open market so that institutional investors could access it.”

Mr Mueller said Aer Lingus had already identified institutional investors that were willing to take a stake of up to 10% in the airline should the Government place its holding on the stock exchange.