Costello urges EU commission to block Aer Lingus takeover

Labour MEP Emer Costello is today urging the EU Commission not to allow Ryanair to takeover Aer Lingus.

At the moment, the EU Competition Commissioner is looking into the proposed takeover and is expected to rule on it early next year.

Ms Costello said that a Ryanair buyout would be detrimental for Irish-based passengers.

"Dublin Airport is Europe's seventh largest airport in terms of intra-EU passengers," she said.

"To have Ryanair come in would reduce competition significantly across the European Union, and I don't think that is in the interests of passengers, not just Irish passengers, but ay passengers travelling to and from Ireland."