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Ryanair added it had met every competition concern raised by the EU during the process and
provided irrevocable commitments from not one, but two, upfront buyers to eliminate all
competitive overlaps between the airlines, as IAG and Flybe stepped in to take over a number of
routes.
Ryanair airline says it will appeal the decision in the European courts, as it is being held to a
much higher standard than any other EU airline and described the decision as political and
unfair.
"This decision is clearly a political one to meet the narrow, vested interests of the Irish
government and is not based on competition law," The airlines head of communications Robin
Kiely added.
Aer Lingus's shares were 5 per cent lower at 1.27 in lunchtime trade, when Ryanair's shares
were unchanged at 5.67.
Ryanair, Europe's biggest budget airline, was told last month that it had one last
chance to submit measures to ensure the proposed 694 million merger did not
reduce competition.
Ryanair's latest offer to the Commission included ceding 43 routes to Flybe and
hand to British Airways the routes Aer Lingus operates from London's Gatwick
Airport.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ryanair-planning-sale-of-aer-lingus-slots-1.755056
routes between Ireland an Britain would see as many as six British Airways planes and four from
Flybe, based in the Republic.
With British Airways operating 20 flights into Heathrow from Irish airports on a daily basis,
Ryanair would then be in a position to argue that that a merged Ryanair/Aer Lingus was no
longer the dominant carrier on those routes.
A separate part of the same takeover process being planned would see the smaller carrier Flybe
operate flights to and from Ireland on 20 other routes where Ryanair and Aer Lingus currently
both have services for at least three years. This move would remove the monopoly any merged
Ryanair-Aer Lingus operation would have an those routs.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324662404578329791069289204.html
http://www.ryanair.com/doc/news/2012/aerlingus_20120619.pdf