Now that the Government has knocked back Ryanair’s bid for Aer Lingus, it will be interesting to see if Willie Walsh is willing to wade in behind Ryanair as it tries to persuade the European Commission to allow it take control of its rival.
Ryanair can’t now buy 100 per cent of Aer Lingus but it could still accumulate a 50 per cent-plus stake and take management control of its Irish rival, but only with the commission’s consent.
As part of the Ryanair remedies package submitted to the commission, British Airways has agreed to take 20 of Aer Lingus’s Heathrow slots to operate flights to Ireland from London.
Walsh has said time and again that he has no interest in buying Aer Lingus or the Government’s 25 per cent stake in the airline.
But he’d like its Heathrow slots for BA.
If Ryanair hopes to persuade the commission, having Walsh enter the debate would be helpful.
PR consultant and former journalist James Morrissey’s book about Inishbofin and Inishark islands off the coast of Galway has proved a big hit with the initial print run of 2,000 now sold out.
It was roughly half and half, hardback and paperback.
Will there be a reprint? “I will definitely do one for next summer,” Morrissey told me this week.
Morrissey described it as a “labour of love” and said it should wash its face financially.
After 26 years, Enda Corneille (right) has taken his leave of Aer Lingus.
His time there included 10 years working abroad and stints as commercial director, and as director of corporate affairs and shared services.
Corneille had been on a sabbatical from the airline to complete an MBA in aviation at the University of Limerick and has now set up his own company, EC Gen Consulting.
“I’m using a lot of my own experience in change management, strategy, and communications in the area of business model change and strategic management,” Corneille told me.
He has also been trying his hand at lecturing in UL. “I’ve some more lectures planned for January and February,” he said.
“I’ve also got a website that’s due to go live in the next couple of days.”
