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Ireland: After failed buyout attempts, Ryanair may lose chunk of Aer Lingus stake

By  |  May 28, 2013

As flights between Ireland and Britain are almost exclusively controlled by Ryanair and Aer Lingus, regulators may soon force Ryanair to divest half of its stake in Aer Lingus as the UK’s Competition Commission reviews the situation. According to reports, the Commission will decide this week if a forced divestment will occur, though the structure of the market and the dominance of the two airlines suggest a divestment is likely. The news is a major blow to the budget carrier that has made several attempts to acquire sole control of Aer Lingus; three attempts have been made, all of which were blocked by regulators over competition concerns. Ryanair head Michael O’Leary has said he would appeal if regulators decide to force the company to sell its stake in Aer Lingus.

Full Content: Irish Central

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