Aer Lingus places advertisements for new chief executive

Aer Lingus has begun advertising the position of chief executive ahead of the resignation of Willie Walsh and his management team before the end of this month.

Mr Walsh and his two closest colleagues, Brian Dunne and Seamus Kearney, were originally due to step down in May, but the airline confirmed yesterday that they would now be leaving on January 28.

The move follows reports that the trio were planning to establish their own low-cost airline to compete with Aer Lingus, which Willie Walsh denied yesterday.

The reports had led to concerns about a conflict of interest and calls for the immediate resignation of the executives, who also had their proposed management buyout of Aer Lingus rejected by the Government last year.