Members of the Employee Share Ownership Trust, who own 12% of the shares in Aer Lingus, have voted by a majority of 97% to reject the takeover offer from Ryanair.
Ballot papers were issued on 3 November last to the ESOT's beneficiaries and the returned ballots were counted this afternoon.
Beneficiaries had until 12pm today to return their ballot paper and 3,224 ballots, representing 70% of the total, were returned.
IMPACT and SIPTU have welcomed the outcome.
The trade union, IMPACT said it believed an independent standalone Aer Lingus was in the best interests of the company, passengers and staff.
IMPACT spokesperson Bernard Harbor said Ryanair's hostile bid was now grounded.
SIPTU National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, said it was a ringing endorsement of the union's call for the bid to be overwhelmingly rejected.
This vote, seen as crucial in deciding whether the offer will succeed, means that the anti-Ryanair camp own 46.6% making it virtually impossible for Ryanair's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary to get more than 50% of Aer Lingus.
Yesterday he ruled out increasing the offer of €2.80 per share. The shares are currently €2.70.
That is a clear indication the stock market does not think this bid will succeed.
