Ryanair not planning to launch long-haul carrier for another four to five years

Ryanair CEO, Michael O'Leary, stated he is not planning to launch a Ryanair-related long-haul, trans-Atlantic carrier for at least another four to five years, due to a backlog in orders for widebody aircraft (Irish Examiner, 08-Feb-2010). Mr O'Leary added he believes the Irish Government would sell its 25% stake in Aer Lingus to anyone other than Ryanair, and that Aer Lingus CEO, Christoph Mueller's recent comment that Ryanair's stake in the carrier is a 'poison pill' "makes no sense", as it does not prevent anyone else purchasing a stake in the carrier.

Ryanair: "We clearly have no control over Aer Lingus. I think Christoph Mueller, to be fair to him, has an impossible task trying to run an airline that is run by government bureaucrats. I don't pay too much attention to what Aer Lingus chief executives say because they generally aren't around for too long," Michael O'Leary, CEO. Source: Irish Examiner, 08-Feb-2010.