Madam, - One of the reasons given for privatising Aer Lingus is that the company needs large amounts of money for fleet renewal and expansion.This makes no sense at all to me. The Government is quite capable of funding the company's growth and future profitability, or raising funds from other sources. The people of Ireland, having supported Aer Lingus for the past 70 years, deserve to benefit from its profitability.
Aer Lingus is a valuable national asset and, if managed well, will continue to be so. There is also the distinct possibility that in the hands of private investors, various bits of the company, such as London Heathrow slots and the newer aircraft, might be sold off, leaving what remains in a very vulnerable position.
As a passenger , I am happy to pay a bit more to travel with Aer Lingus due to the standard of service offered. In Paris recently, I missed my flight home and was told that I could travel on the next one for a charge of €25, which was fair enough. I dread to think what the attitude would have been and what would I have been charged if I had been travelling with another Irish airline. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL McCARTHY,
Eagle Hill,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.