European Commission Again Grounds A Ryanair Bid For Aer Lingus

On 27 February 2013, the European Commission (“Commission”) announced its decision to prohibit the proposed acquisition of control of Aer Lingus by Ryanair (the “Proposed Acquisition”). Ryanair has indicated that it intends to appeal the Commission’s decision.

This is not the first time that the Commission has blocked a proposed acquisition of control of Aer Lingus by Ryanair. In 2007, the Commission prohibited such an attempt, a decision which was later upheld by the EU General Court in 2010. In 2009, Ryanair launched a second bid for Aer Lingus, but which was subsequently withdrawn. In June 2012, Ryanair announced its intention to launch a new bid for Aer Lingus, and upon which the Commission has now delivered its substantive competition analysis.