Aer Lingus again rejects EGM call

The board of Aer Lingus has rejected Ryanair's second call for an Extraordinary General Meeting to be convened to discuss the former state airline's withdrawal from the Shannon-Heathrow route.

In a letter sent to Ryanair Company Secretary Jim Callaghan, Aer Lingus says Ryanair's aim is to interfere with and frustrate the commercial performance of what it calls Ryanair's most resilient competitor.

Earlier this month, Aer Lingus rejected Ryanair's first call for an EGM on the basis that to do so would breach competition law, and could lead to the airline being exposed to criminal charges, damages and fines.

Ryanair then sought an EGM on the basis of a narrower resolution and insisted that meeting to discuss this would not breach competition law.

However, the Aer Lingus board says it has received strong legal advice that the new resolution is no different in substance from the earlier ones.

The board also believes that discussing the proposed resolution at an EGM would not be possible without the risk of disclosing or exchanging commercially confidential information between competitors.

Aer Lingus chairman John Sharman said the Aer Lingus board would act in accordance with the law and would not dance to the tune of a competitor.

He added that they would not be deflected by the self-serving agenda of a competitor with whom they fight tooth and nail for business every single day.

Finally Mr Sharman rejects Ryanair's criticism of its interim results.

He points Aer Lingus would not have faced significant costs if Ryanair had not mounted a hostile bid for the company which was doomed to failure on competition grounds.

A spokesperson for Ryanair confirmed that the company has received the letter and is considering its contents.