Aer Lingus - 6
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I wonder would interest from BA run into trouble because of the number of Heathrow slots it would give BA. Those slots are one of the most valuable asses you get with Aer Lingus.
Otherwise, they don't provide a good fit for AF/KLM.
Potentially, they're more interesting to Star Alliance. All Star's long-haul hubs are quite far east in Europe and having one right out on the edge of the Atlantic could prove useful.
I think we can rule out majority middle-east ownership because of the effect on open skies rights both within Europe and transatlantic.
Just possibly, there could be some kind of tie-up with JetBlue. Again because of Open Skies restrictions, Jet Blue couldn't buy them, but they could take a 30% stake.
Otherwise, they don't provide a good fit for AF/KLM.
Potentially, they're more interesting to Star Alliance. All Star's long-haul hubs are quite far east in Europe and having one right out on the edge of the Atlantic could prove useful.
I think we can rule out majority middle-east ownership because of the effect on open skies rights both within Europe and transatlantic.
Just possibly, there could be some kind of tie-up with JetBlue. Again because of Open Skies restrictions, Jet Blue couldn't buy them, but they could take a 30% stake.
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"Think it will not be sold this year. ESB and other larger assits will be gone before it."
It won't be this year anyway as the government are not discussing this with the IMf until December afaik. They are now looking for a 5bn asset sale instead of the original 2bn, so I would say everything is on the table.
It won't be this year anyway as the government are not discussing this with the IMf until December afaik. They are now looking for a 5bn asset sale instead of the original 2bn, so I would say everything is on the table.
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With all due Respect just a spotter, calling EI a "small regional at best" is nonsense. RE or WX are small regionals.
Airlines that carry 10 million pax and fly long haul routes are not regional, and in a European context, are not considered small either.
By your rationale, BMI, Finnair and TAP are all small regionals too, while Virgin are but a cottage industry, measured by pax carried.
EI is a medium sized european airline with an interesting mini hub possibility in DUB, and home carrier of a Market that provides the mighty BA with 10% of it's revenue.
By your logic, Malev, CSA and many other carriers would all have been shunned by alliances because they are even smaller than the "small regional".
And no, I don't work for them....
Airlines that carry 10 million pax and fly long haul routes are not regional, and in a European context, are not considered small either.
By your rationale, BMI, Finnair and TAP are all small regionals too, while Virgin are but a cottage industry, measured by pax carried.
EI is a medium sized european airline with an interesting mini hub possibility in DUB, and home carrier of a Market that provides the mighty BA with 10% of it's revenue.
By your logic, Malev, CSA and many other carriers would all have been shunned by alliances because they are even smaller than the "small regional".
And no, I don't work for them....
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Originally Posted by 840
Just possibly, there could be some kind of tie-up with JetBlue. Again because of Open Skies restrictions, Jet Blue couldn't buy them, but they could take a 30% stake.
They changed that last year though, so carriers either side of the Atlantic can now take majority ownership of other American/European carriers. It just needs to be approved by the US Congress/national government and the European Commission.
Open Sky US-EU "open sky" agreement expanded, cross ownership issue still in limbo - eTurboNews.com
So the door is wide open for JetBlue or any other US carrier to take over Aer Lingus...
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Originally Posted by Dannk
with the new Eimerates service starting in January I wonder will EI be interested in a codeshare with them on the flight?
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what about connection to US, BOS, ORD and MCO are currently not served by them and with the timing of the flights they tie in Nicely for connection possibilities, don't know what way US preclearance would work though, suppose im just dreaming now.
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The only codeshare agreement that Emirates has outside of Asia and Africa is with Air Malta.
Aer Lingus already tried to develop a codeshare agreement with Emirates back when they started their own Dubai route and Emirates weren't interested. Part of the reason was probably down to Aer Lingus' poor long-haul product, but the main reason was Emirate's policy of developing it's own direct links with it's hub in Dubai. Thats why they're not part of an alliance, and why they've so few codeshare agreements, they want to fly routes with their own metal.
So its a non-starter IMO.
Aer Lingus already tried to develop a codeshare agreement with Emirates back when they started their own Dubai route and Emirates weren't interested. Part of the reason was probably down to Aer Lingus' poor long-haul product, but the main reason was Emirate's policy of developing it's own direct links with it's hub in Dubai. Thats why they're not part of an alliance, and why they've so few codeshare agreements, they want to fly routes with their own metal.
So its a non-starter IMO.
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Article in todays Times says that Ryanair have had a change of heart with regards to their shareholding as it has dropped in value from 300million to 100million and are now prepared to sell.
Aer Lingus would be much easier for BA to assimilate than bmi would, plus Aer Lingus is actually making money...
Aer Lingus would be much easier for BA to assimilate than bmi would, plus Aer Lingus is actually making money...
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Why Lufthansa? What indications are there that they have an interest?
A possible merger of British Airways and Aer Lingus looked closer yesterday after the Irish flag carrier’s two largest shareholders indicated their willingness to sell.
The Irish Government said that it no longer regarded its 25 per cent stake as strategically vital and was considering a sale. A commitment to dispose of the €100 million (£88 million) holding could come as early today after ministers meet in Dublin.
Aer Lingus’s other big shareholder, Ryanair, surprised many analysts as it, too, said that it was open to selling its 29.8 per cent holding. The no-frills carrier has made two bids for its Irish rival since acquiring the stake five years ago but has been blocked by European competition regulators.
The value of Ryanair’s stake has fallen by more than €300 million to about €100 million since the shares were bought. In a statement yesterday, it said: “Should another financially strong airline/investor acquire the Government’s 25 per cent stake, Ryanair would not rule out entering into discussions with that party for the subsequent disposal of Ryanair’s near-30 per cent stake subject to an acceptable agreement on price and maximising shareholder value.”
Analysts said that the obvious candidate to buy the stakes would be International Airlines Group, which owns BA and Iberia. IAG has said that it wants to lead consolidation in European aviation and Aer Lingus would be an attractive addition. The Irish carrier is the fourth-largest operator at Heathrow and a merger would add 3 per cent of the airport’s slots to IAG’s allocation.
IAG should be well placed to assess the value of a possible merger as its chief executive Willie Walsh was previously the boss of Aer Lingus.
Analysts at Credit Suisse said: “IAG is the most likely to have strongest appetite in accessing Aer Lingus’s Heathrow portfolio. However, it remains to be seen whether it may have interest in the rest of the business.”
Ryanair’s presence on the share registry was expected to be an impediment to a deal with another carrier. The budget airline’s conciliatory tone yesterday, therefore, has been seen as a significant step towards a possible deal with IAG or Air France-KLM, the other likely bidder. Another possible impediment is the €344 million pension deficit in the Aer Lingus and Dublin Airports Authority fund.
Analysts at Bloxham, the Dublin stockbroker, said: “We suspect IAG, despite protestations, would like to buy Aer Lingus, but only with a clean pension fund.” IAG declined to comment.
The Irish Government is under pressure to raise money from asset sales after its €85 billion bailout by the European Union. The Government has committed to raising about €2 billion by disposing of assets but the International Monetary Fund has said that even more might need to be sold. The IMF yesterday cut its 2011 growth forecast for Ireland from 0.6 per cent to 0.4 per cent because of the worsening economic environment in Europe.
The Irish Government previously has been unwilling to consider a sale of the Aer Lingus stake because it wanted to maintain the airline’s position at Heathrow, which is seen as important for maintaining Ireland’s business connections with London and international markets.
However, Leo Varadkar, the Transport Minister, said yesterday: “It’s certainly under consideration, it’s definitely one of the candidates [for disposal].
“That stake in the past was held for strategic reasons. I don’t think that really stands any more.” Analysts at Bloxham said: “We’ve heard lots of verbiage about how this country will change radically as it moves to kick the IMF out. The time for talking about asset sales is surely over. Now we need action.”
The Irish Government said that it no longer regarded its 25 per cent stake as strategically vital and was considering a sale. A commitment to dispose of the €100 million (£88 million) holding could come as early today after ministers meet in Dublin.
Aer Lingus’s other big shareholder, Ryanair, surprised many analysts as it, too, said that it was open to selling its 29.8 per cent holding. The no-frills carrier has made two bids for its Irish rival since acquiring the stake five years ago but has been blocked by European competition regulators.
The value of Ryanair’s stake has fallen by more than €300 million to about €100 million since the shares were bought. In a statement yesterday, it said: “Should another financially strong airline/investor acquire the Government’s 25 per cent stake, Ryanair would not rule out entering into discussions with that party for the subsequent disposal of Ryanair’s near-30 per cent stake subject to an acceptable agreement on price and maximising shareholder value.”
Analysts said that the obvious candidate to buy the stakes would be International Airlines Group, which owns BA and Iberia. IAG has said that it wants to lead consolidation in European aviation and Aer Lingus would be an attractive addition. The Irish carrier is the fourth-largest operator at Heathrow and a merger would add 3 per cent of the airport’s slots to IAG’s allocation.
IAG should be well placed to assess the value of a possible merger as its chief executive Willie Walsh was previously the boss of Aer Lingus.
Analysts at Credit Suisse said: “IAG is the most likely to have strongest appetite in accessing Aer Lingus’s Heathrow portfolio. However, it remains to be seen whether it may have interest in the rest of the business.”
Ryanair’s presence on the share registry was expected to be an impediment to a deal with another carrier. The budget airline’s conciliatory tone yesterday, therefore, has been seen as a significant step towards a possible deal with IAG or Air France-KLM, the other likely bidder. Another possible impediment is the €344 million pension deficit in the Aer Lingus and Dublin Airports Authority fund.
Analysts at Bloxham, the Dublin stockbroker, said: “We suspect IAG, despite protestations, would like to buy Aer Lingus, but only with a clean pension fund.” IAG declined to comment.
The Irish Government is under pressure to raise money from asset sales after its €85 billion bailout by the European Union. The Government has committed to raising about €2 billion by disposing of assets but the International Monetary Fund has said that even more might need to be sold. The IMF yesterday cut its 2011 growth forecast for Ireland from 0.6 per cent to 0.4 per cent because of the worsening economic environment in Europe.
The Irish Government previously has been unwilling to consider a sale of the Aer Lingus stake because it wanted to maintain the airline’s position at Heathrow, which is seen as important for maintaining Ireland’s business connections with London and international markets.
However, Leo Varadkar, the Transport Minister, said yesterday: “It’s certainly under consideration, it’s definitely one of the candidates [for disposal].
“That stake in the past was held for strategic reasons. I don’t think that really stands any more.” Analysts at Bloxham said: “We’ve heard lots of verbiage about how this country will change radically as it moves to kick the IMF out. The time for talking about asset sales is surely over. Now we need action.”
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" plus Aer Lingus is actually making money..."
Did it not make a loss for the first 6 months of the year?
Aer Lingus upbeat despite first-half loss - RT News
Aer Lingus has reported a pre-tax loss of €14.2m for the first half of this year, compared with a €20.8m loss in the same period last year.
Operating losses were €27.8m, 46% higher than the €19m loss in the same period last year.
Did it not make a loss for the first 6 months of the year?
Aer Lingus upbeat despite first-half loss - RT News
Aer Lingus has reported a pre-tax loss of €14.2m for the first half of this year, compared with a €20.8m loss in the same period last year.
Operating losses were €27.8m, 46% higher than the €19m loss in the same period last year.
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Did it not make a loss for the first 6 months of the year?
However, EI's losses during Q1 of this year were disproportionate to the losses suffered by other airlines during the same period - when the losses are weighted in proportion to top lines revenues.
Aer Lingus is highly unlikely to generate any material net earnings growth in the coming one - three year period and there is a risk that it would be targeted by investors, not seeking to grow or enhance EI but seeking to target it's substantial core asset base.
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One passenger and Two cabin crew were taking to hospital yestaerday after falling ill on a flight from TLS - DUB yesterday. Oxgen masks were down and its suspected that it was a pressure problme as before departure in TLS one of the doors could not be closed normally and required attenction.
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Aer Lingus selling off it's ground handling at LHR in 2000 was a knee jerk reaction to the ground handling market , always a steady income from 30 + airlines that it handled at LHR , i hope they get what's coming to them 
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@BritishG maybe you should make yourself more clear. it sounds like you're wishing the very same misery on the remaining staff in EI that happened to the staff in EILHR then. NICE. No one in front line EI-IRL wanted that to happen to their colleagues in LHR. They went to great lengths to stop it but Bernie Cahill and Gary Mc Cann were not for changing on it. Speaking as a former EINN staff member, I know only too well what happened at the time and didn't like what was done to my colleagues. Considering the amount of business and profit that was being made from the ENORMOUS operation that was in EILHR at the time it didn't make sense.
Last edited by EISNN; 10th Sep 2011 at 14:10.
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Are A the A321 not being used this winter?
Was trying to book flights to LPA after Christmas and all showing as A320. Dates I wanted are full so have to use FR
Last year left it until November to book and it was fine.
Was trying to book flights to LPA after Christmas and all showing as A320. Dates I wanted are full so have to use FR
Last year left it until November to book and it was fine.