Ryanair’s Intervention in Aer Lingus Plans for Belfast International smacks of Sour Grapes says Nicholson
Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has said the intervention of Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary in the row over Aer Lingus plans to fly from Belfast International to London Heathrow smacked of sour grapes and was extremely unhelpful.
Mr O’Leary’s Ryanair own a 25% stake in Aer Lingus and announced today that he wants and extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to take place where the proposed plans could be blocked.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“Mr O’Leary’s intervention today could ultimately jeopardise not just Aer Lingus plans to fly from Belfast International to London Heathrow but also put at risk their plans to fly to other European destinations from Belfast International, which in economic terms would be a disaster.
“At the end of the day, Mr O’Leary is not acting in the best interests of the people of Shannon or of Belfast but in the best interests of himself and his company.
“His reaction is nothing but sour grapes and I would encourage him to look at ways of how he can expand Ryanair’s services from Northern Ireland on the back of recent announcements, instead of playing silly games with Aer Lingus’s move to Belfast International.”