27th May 2015 14:54
London (Alliance News) - Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Wednesday said he was confident the proposed EUR1.36 billion (USD1.48billion) sale of Aer Lingus to the parent company of British Airways would go ahead and win approval by the European Commission.
Addressing parliament following his cabinet's decision late Tuesday to sell the government's 25% stake in Aer Lingus to the International Airlines Group (IAG), Kenny said the deal would create jobs in Ireland.
The parliament is expected to vote on the sale on Thursday, while uncertainty remains over the position of Irish budget airline Ryanair, which holds a 30% stake in Aer Lingus.
Ryanair on Wednesday said it was "yet to receive any offer, and will consider any offer on its merits, if and when an offer is made."
Speaking to reporters in Dublin on Wednesday, Willie Walsh, IAG's chief executive, said he expected Ryanair to realize "the value we are offering in terms of this takeover and will want to see the deal go through."
The government had expressed concerns that flights to and from Ireland would be reduced and jobs lost if the original bid from IAG, which was formed when British Airways and Spain's Iberia merged, was approved.
But Kenny on Wednesday said the government had secured guarantees from IAG over airport operations and routes for Aer Lingus flights after the takeover.
Copyright dpa
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