Aer Lingus refutes O’Leary’s claims over Hangar 6

THE Dublin Airport Authority would have to give Aer Lingus 24 months notice and a brand new hangar before it could leave controversial Hangar 6, the airline’s chairman has claimed.

Colm Barrington made the comments as it emerged that, eight months before Aer Lingus signed a 20-year lease on Hangar 6, Ryanair wrote to the Government offering to save the jobs of 500 SR Technics (SRT) staff using the facility.

In the letter dated February 26, 2009, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said, in light of SRT’s announced intention to pull out of the country, his airline was willing immediately to step in and commit its foreseeable future base maintenance requirements to Dublin airport with the creation of up to 500 jobs. He also made it clear he would not deal with the owners of the hangar, the Dublin Airport Authority.