17/08/2012

Ryanair Proposing To Pull Aer Lingus Routes To Avoid Monopoly

It has been revealed that Ryanair is in discussions with the European Commission about pulling Aer Lingus from a series of routes out of Dublin if it is granted permission to take over the airline.

This would allow a number of major European airlines, including British Airways and Virgin, to operate from routes vacated in the airport.

The proposal has been put forward to address concerns that a takeover of Aer Lingus would result in Ryanair gaining an excessive market share on Dublin routes.

It is understood that contact has already been made with several large European airlines.

The decision to prohibit Ryanair from taking over Aer Lingus in 2006 concluded that a takeover could "create a monopoly or a dominant position" on 35 routes operated by both parties.

The Commission investigated Ryanair’s proposed remedies and found them to be "inadequate to remove competition concerns".

(H)

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