Aer Lingus privatisation - Turbulence ahead over airline sale

THE sudden injection of energy into the Government’s lumbering bid to privatise Aer Lingus has been greeted, inevitably, by growing concern from the trade unions.

That they are fearful for their future livelihoods is understandable. Given the massive gains likely to be reaped from staff shares in the group, however, workers at Aer Lingus could be laughing all the way to the bank.

Aer Lingus staff, doubtless, are taking a keen interest in the looming takeover of Eircom, by Australian investment giant Babcock & Brown, and the handsome benefits that members of ESOT, the employee trust at former State-owned telecoms company, are in line for as a result.