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RYANAIR WILL JOIN forces with Aer Lingus’s prospective buyer IAG and three more of Europe’s largest airline groups to lobby for what they call more ‘American-style’ aviation rules.
The heads of the two airline groups got together with the CEOs of rival carriers Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Easyjet today to call for Europe-wide action to cut taxes and stop strikes in the region.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the airlines wanted to use technology to allow air space over a country to stay open when air traffic controllers went on strike.
He also argued for “first-step measures” for workers to air concerns before resorting to a strike.
The unorthodox move from usually fierce competitors like Ryanair and Easyjet to get into bed together for the push followed recent strikes in Spain and France that grounded many flights in and out of the countries.
Air traffic controllers have complained the EU has been yielding to industry pressure to cut costs, risking passenger safety.
A new world order
The five airline groups planned to form their own trade body to lobby for changes after European flag carriers failed to agree on how best to answer the challenge of the aggressively expanding Middle Eastern airlines, the Financial Times reported.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has yet to agree to hand over its shares in Aer Lingus to IAG, which owns British Airways among other airlines, despite UK authorities ordering it to sell down its 30% stake.
IAG’s proposed €1.35 billion takeover would still need to be cleared by competition regulators.
- With AP
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Never mind that shit! scarlet for yer wan on the left in the photo.
I think it’s cute.
Matt I bet you wouldn’t mind checking it out
Scarlet for both of them for being in such a cringy photoshoot
Not sure if US style rules will be good for the consumer…
Stopping ATC strikes by the French is consumer friendly.
Was this decided at the Bilderberg meeting last weekend that O’Leary attended?
Shush, don’t be speaking actual facts, they’ll make you wear the much spoken about but seldom seen tin-foil hat!
Because professional lobbying of government officials by specialist interest groups has given the U.S. Government so much credibility…
That’s ruined pillow fights for everyone
Knickers Monica.
IAG haven’t made an offer to Ryanair for shares in EI, so it’s a moot point.
They made an offer to the board of Aer Lingus, all shares will go for the same price and all current shareholders will lose their shares!
have your say