Calls for European Commission to investigate Aer Lingus takeover bid

GOVERNMENT and opposition MEPs have called on the European Commission to investigate the attempted e1.4 billion takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair.

They claimed such a deal would jeopardise the US/Ireland aviation agreement that allows Aer Lingus to fly into various American airports.

Fianna Fáil’s Sean O’Neachtain and Brian Crowley and Jim Mitchell of Fine Gael have written to Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes objecting to the bid by Europe’s biggest low-cost flyer for the Irish national airline.