OFT refers Ryanair’s minority stake in Aer Lingus to UK Competition Commission

UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) announced (15-Jun-2012) it referred Ryanair's minority stake of 29.8% in Aer Lingus to the UK Competition Commission for further investigation due to competition concerns. The OFT launched an investigation into the stake once its bid for outright control of Aer Lingus was no longer under review by the European Commission and the European Court. The OFT concluded, "Ryanair's stake may give it the ability to exercise material influence over the commercial policy of Aer Lingus and that there is a realistic prospect that its stake has resulted or will result in a substantial lessening of competition on a number of Ryanair and/or Aer Lingus routes between the UK and Ireland. The OFT therefore considers it appropriate for the Competition Commission to undertake a more detailed investigation into this matter". [more - original PR]