Mark, don't be so sensitive, I'm not getting at you, just losing the rag at the way this whole squalid mess has been handled by this shower of w**kers who call themselves a government.
As to the idea about removing the slots from ALT before the sale....don't you get it?
The SLOTS were (and probably still are) the MOST valuable assett Aer Lingus owned!!
Without the slots - nobody would've been buying at flotation, except perhaps a few (mug) small investors, and Bertie couldn't afford to screw them again after the Eircom fiasco.
Loganair and FlyBe...do they have LHR slots to spare?
Would a 50 seater into LHR be a commercially viable replacement for an A320?
Would the Westies tolerate being downgraded to a turboprop service?
Come on man!
As regards the EU....Bertie will be on his knees begging (if required) and I honestly believe the Pols will always stick together when push comes to shove. He'll get another 'dig out' from 'his mates'.