Essential air links

WHETHER or not the intervention of the Aer Lingus board and its chairman, Colm Barrington, in the debate around the sale of the Government’s share in the airline proves decisive only time can tell.

Mr Barrington and the board have said there is a “compelling commercial logic” for the carrier to become part of International Consolidated Airlines’ Group (IAG), who have offered €1.36bn for the Government’s 25.1% shareholding.

The reluctance to sell the shares seems politically motivated, but there are other issues too.