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Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

The three promises IAG has made to the Irish government about Aer Lingus

The company said it would make legally binding commmitments.

Updated 4.45pm

INTERNATIONAL CONSOLIDATED AIRLINES Group (IAG) has issued a statement outlining the promises it will make to the Irish government to secure the acquisition of Aer Lingus.

In the note, British Airways’ parent company says it “proposing to offer legally binding commitments” to the government which it says “go well beyond the protections currently available”.

Within those promises, IAG says it will commit to operating Irish routes on the airline’s Heathrow slots for a period of five years.

The statement outlines the three proposed commitments that it hopes will sweeten the deal for the State, which owns a 25% stake in the business:

  • That the airline’s 23 slot pairs at London Heathrow cannot be sold, even to other IAG airlines, without the explicit agreement of the Irish government. 
  • That the airline’s name, head office location or place of incorporation in the Republic of Ireland cannot be changed, without the explicit agreement of the Irish government.
  • To operate the slots on Irish routes for five years.

“We are committed to maintaining and strengthening Aer Lingus,” chief executive Willie Walsh said in a statement.

“We want to develop air services that ensure Ireland’s connectivity is enhanced,” he continued.

These commitments would give the Irish Government an important role that they do not have today in securing the future of Aer Lingus.

In a brief statement this afternoon, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said he is aware of the commitments given by IAG this afternoon, and he “will examine the details very carefully”.

IAG has offered to pay €2.55 per share for Aer Lingus, a deal which would value the airline at about €1.35 billion.

Since then the potential deal has been caught up in a political bun-fight amid concerns over what the deal would mean for the future of the national carrier, its workers and international links to Ireland.

Explainer: Why does IAG want to get its hands on Aer Lingus so badly?

Read: Need to get to Donegal? You can now fly there from Dublin

Related: ‘A small regional peripheral airline’ – Michael O’Leary dismisses Aer Lingus talk

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    Mute Donna Fallon
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    Dec 12th 2024, 8:31 AM

    What’s the story with that Woman facing Court over €43 of stolen plants?? Obviously theft of any kind is so not right but so long as there are r@pists and other predators walking around free, it’s farcical.

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    Mute rqHSc3FP
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    Dec 12th 2024, 9:03 AM

    @Donna Fallon: not to mention Brendan Mullin, “rainmaker”, in open prison. Did he wear the green jersey in court. Convicted criminal should be in the ‘Joy with GodGroupie numptysocket Enoch Burke fumbling odd-shaped balls.

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    Dec 12th 2024, 9:15 AM

    @Donna Fallon: mmm, that’s a tricky case for the state……… basically, guards lost the cctv footage of any such ‘crime’ being committed…. lady can’t recall if she was/ wasn’t in that shop on that particular day. Once prosecution admitted the cctv footage was ‘missing ‘, they should’ve dropped that nonsense like a hot potato

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    Dec 12th 2024, 7:47 AM

    Those Weetabix – soggy, bite taken out of them, floating in watery stuff – it’s almost as if they represent SocDems. Bless that editorial wisdom.

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    Dec 12th 2024, 7:48 AM

    Oh no!

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    Mute Ned
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    Dec 12th 2024, 4:32 PM

    A the watchdog fossil fuels report blah blah blah report.

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