Willie Walsh ‘relaxed’ over Aer Lingus bid as Q1 profits soar

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said the parent of British Airways is in no rush to complete a takeover of Aer Lingus as he continues to negotiate with the Government that is keen to see him meet guarantees.

“We’re very relaxed about it at this stage,” Mr Walsh told journalists on a conference call yesterday as the company kept its guidance for full-year earnings unchanged. “We’re not under any pressure, nor are we intending to put any pressure on anybody involved in the process.”

IAG is continuing talks to gain approval from Government, a 25% shareholder in Aer Lingus, and a decision is likely in “coming weeks”, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said earlier this week. The Government rejected an indicative bid earlier this year, saying it could not back the €1.36bn ($1.53bn) offer unless Mr Walsh guaranteed links between Heathrow and Ireland for more than five years and clarifies employment prospects.