State should sell Aer Lingus, urges management

AER LINGUS management has recommended that the best interests of the company would be served by a swift Government decision to sell up the airline.

The airline’s chief executive, Willie Walsh, said privatisation, although not necessarily a management buyout, was the best option for the future development of the national carrier.

In his first public appearance since details of a controversial privatisation proposal emerged last month, Mr Walsh stressed that senior management at Aer Lingus had never sought Government approval to develop a specific management buyout proposal.