Ryanair confirms plans to re-bid for Aer Lingus in New Year

Ryanair says it will re-bid for Aer Lingus in January following the outcome of a European Commission investigation.

The Commission announced it is launching a more indepth probe into the Ryanair offer after it identified potential competition concerns over the proposed takeover.

The outcome of this investigation won't be known until the New Year.

In a statement, the European Commission said a takeover could lead to the elimination of actual and potential competition on a large number of routes, which the two airlines currently both serve.

Ryanair's bid now lapses under company takeover rules but in a statement this afternoon, the low fares airline says it will re-bid in January.

"Ryanair intends to re-bid for Aer Lingus if the European Commission clears its offer following its Phase II review. The making of any such Further Offer will require consent of the Takeover Panel to a derogation from the prohibition on making a further offer within twelve months after the date on which the original Offer lapsed," the statement read.

Assistant Editor with the Sunday Business Post Ian Kehoe says Ryanair is making it clear to Aer Lingus that it's not going away: "By the time the competition commission in Brussels actually gets around to deciding one way or another that offer will technically have lost.

"The indication here is that they are still in place for it and re-bid for it, if and when they get clearance.

"Their offer effectively stands, although it might not be formally on the table. It has made clear that they won't be going away anytime soon."