RYANAIR HAS SAID that it will not comment on fresh speculation about its bid for Aer Lingus.
Ryanair tonight reconfirmed that it will not comment on the EU process currently underway in relation to its takeover offer for Aer Lingus.
RTE reported this evening that it was believed the airline had suggested a new solution to address concerns about its bid.
It was reported that this proposed solution would see Aer Lingus vacating routes from Dublin, which would then be filled by large European airlines.
However, Ryanair described this evening’s news reports as “rumour and speculation”, and said it “has no intention on commenting”.
Ryanair currently holds an almost 30 per cent share in Aer Lingus. It made its first bid to take over Aer Lingus in 2007, but the European Commission rejected it on competition grounds.
Last month, Aer Lingus wrote to shareholders warning them that Ryanair’s takeover bid is “not in their interest”.
“Corporate culture”
Meanwhile, the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association said on the News at One today that the airline had a “corporate culture” that was responsible for three mayday calls being issued on the same day by Ryanair pilots last month.
Ryanair said in response to this that it “has no problem and will cooperate fully with any investigation into the three emergency landings” by Ryanair aircraft in Valencia on July 26.
It said that the three aircraft landed in Valencia some 60 mins after their scheduled arrival time in Madrid having been circling overhead Madrid and Valencia airports under ATC instruction, due to a thunderstorm at Madrid.
All three aircraft landed with reserve fuel of at least 30 mins (300 miles) additional flying – in full compliance with published Boeing and EASA safety requirements.
As required by safety procedures, Ryanair reported these incidents to both the Spanish and Irish aviation authorities.
Speaking to RTÉ, Evan Cullen of the IALPA said that there is a “Ryanair policy and corporate culture with regard to fuel” and that the pilots “came under the legal definition… of imminent danger”.
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara told TheJournal.ie that due to the severe thunderstorms the craft were held at Valencia for beween 50 and 69 minutes each, and that they requested ATC permission to land immediately as they reached reserve fuel minimums
He said these reserve fuel minimums allow each aircraft to operate for an additional 30 minutes (300 miles) of flying.
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