Virgin to frustrate IAG-Aer Lingus deal

Virgin Atlantic will try to frustrate and delay clearance of the takeover by Willie Walsh’s IAG of Aer Lingus, but will likely land short of persuading the Brussels’ competition regulators to shoot down the deal altogether, analysts say.

Following Ryanair’s barrage aimed earlier this week at the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority for ordering it to sell down the 29.8% stake it holds in Aer Lingus, focus this weekend has switched to the potential concessions that Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic will seek to secure from the competition probe into the bid in Brussels.

Virgin is a huge competitor with IAG’s British Airways and Iberia on the North American routes from Heathrow.