Ryanair to appeal EU Commission over Aer Lingus merger

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, has confirmed that it would appeal the EU Commission’s decision to prohibit the merger with Aer Lingus to the European Court of First Instance. Ryanair expressed confidence that this prohibition will be overturned.

Speaking yesterday in Dublin Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said;

"Aer Lingus claimed yesterday that the EU Commission’s prohibition is ‘another boost for Aer Lingus and for consumers’. This is nonsense. Aer Lingus’ share price is now significantly below Ryanair’s €2.80 offer which means that their shareholders are losing out. The fact that consumers will be denied the Ryanair guarantee of lower Aer Lingus fares and the elimination of fuel surcharges means that they will suffer a penalty of over €100m p.a.

"Aer Lingus is continuing to waste shareholders’ money by ordering new aircraft at the top of the cycle, by supporting expensive T2 facilities at Dublin airport which will double their costs and by wasting almost €20m of shareholders funds to oppose Ryanair’s €2.80 offer. This waste has been reflected in their falling share price.

"We call on Aer Lingus to lower their fares and scrap these unfair fuel surcharges and at least deliver the same value to consumers that Ryanair’s offer would. In the mean time Ryanair will continue to grow, will continue to offer lower fares and will continue to beat Aer Lingus on price and punctuality. We look forward to the European Courts overturning this unprecedented and unlawful prohibition".