Ryanair expects Irish Government to request a bail out for Aer Lingus

Ryanair CEO, Michael O'Leary, stated it expects the Irish Government to ask the LCC to bail out Aer Lingus if it continues to cut costs unsuccessfully (Reuters/RTE News, 08-Oct-09). Mr O'Leary also called on the government to explain why it did not accept Ryanair's previous take over bids, claiming that if the LCC had taken over Aer Lingus, the carrier would have doubled the size of its fleet and added 1,000 new positions at the carrier.

Ryanair: "If they continue down this road of constant restructuring programmes, constant job cuts and no growth, the government will ultimately be forced to come to Ryanair and ask it to rescue it," Michael O'Leary, CEO. Source: Reuters 08-Oct-09.