Aer Lingus has confirmed that its top management team led by chief executive, Mr Willie Walsh, will leave the airline by the end of January.
Mr Willie Walsh
Mr Walsh and his two colleagues, Mr Brian Dunne, chief financial officer, and Mr Séamus Kearney, chief operations officer, announced their intention to leave the airline last November and offered to serve until May if necessary.
But reports that the trio were planning to set up a rival airline hastened their departure amid concerns about a conflict of interest.
Mr Walsh strongly rejected allegations of a potential conflict of interest over his continuing role at the airline but has remained tightlipped on his future plans other than to say he wishes to stay in the airline business.
Mr Walsh said today he had received around 40 proposals from prospective employers including a number from overseas which might interest him. He declined to elaborate on whether these proposal were offered to him as an individual or if they included his colleagues.
He said that while he would be willing to consider working with Mr Dunne and Mr Kearney in the future, it was more likely that the three men would go their separate ways.
The new departure date of January 28th was agreed at a meeting with Aer Lingus chairman, Mr John Sharman.