Aer Lingus board meet to discuss plan to buy out airline

AN urgent meeting of the Aer Lingus board is expected to be convened this week to discuss the audacious plan by three senior executives to lead a management buyout of the airline.

The newly appointed interim chairman of Aer Lingus, John Sharman, is likely to bring forward the next scheduled meeting of directors by several weeks to discuss the implications of the proposal announced by the company chief executive officer Willie Walsh at the weekend.

Mr Walsh and the airline’s chief operations officer, Séamus Kearney, and chief financial officer Brian Dunne have sought permission from Transport Minister Séamus Brennan to develop an investment proposal for Aer Lingus.