In a dramatic move, Aer Lingus Chief Executive Willie Walsh and two colleagues have put forward a proposal to Government for a management-led buy-out of the airline.
The airline is valued at between €500 and €600 million.
The biggest union at Aer Lingus, SIPTU, has repeated its opposition to any privatisation of the company.
SIPTU National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, said this evening that the first it had heard of plans by senior management to arrange a buy-out of the airline was in media reports this evening.
In a statement the Minister for Transport, Séamus Brennan, has confirmed that he has received a request from three senior members of the Aer Lingus management seeking approval to develop an investment proposal for the company.
According to the statement the minister is taking expert advice on the request. He will brief Government over the coming days and will respond to the request and issue guidance to the Board on the matter shortly.
