Ryanair still confident EU will back Aer Lingus bid

Nov. 16, 2012

Ryanair remains confident of securing EU approval of its bid to take over Aer Lingus, despite receiving a statement of objections from Europe's competition watchdog, the airline said.

Ryanair's offer for Aer Lingus is being reviewed while dramatic changes take place across the EU airline industry.

Restructuring of Iberia will see 4,500 job losses, while the takeover of Vueling by IAG will see the combining the No.2 and No.3 airlines in Spain.

More major restructuring at SAS will see 6,000 job losses and the merger is planned of Aegean and Olympic, the main airlines in Greece.

The airline said: 'Ryanair... remains confident that its offer for Aer Lingus will receive competition clearance following any fair assessment by the commission'.

The issuing of a statement of objections is 'a standard procedural step,' Ryanair said, adding it expected the commission to market test its package of competition remedies.

Ryanair said it had secured agreement with third-party airlines to create 'a number of new airline bases in Dublin' and new competitors on more than 40 routes to and from Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

Additional competition solutions will guarantee increased price competition on routes out of Ireland, the airline said.

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