Unison.ie reports:
THE Aer Lingus board considered mounting a takeover of BMI earlier this year.
The board was looking at fall-back positions in the event the Open Skies deal, which was concluded last week, did not go ahead.
The airline also ran the rule over a number of other European low-cost carriers, including Flybe.
It is understood that the previous Aer Lingus management, led by Willie Walsh, the current British Airways chief executive, also harboured plans to mount a bid for BMI, once it had restructured Aer Lingus. Discussion with BMI did take place, but it is understood they centred on the possibility of Aer Lingus acquiring a number of long-haul aircraft from BMI.