The Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke, yesterday met the chairman of Aer Lingus, Bernie Cahill, amid continuing controversy over the possibility of a trade sale of the national airline.
SIPTU - the company's largest union - warned that in the current financial circumstances, a trade sale of the airline would amount to what it called a fire sale.
A spokesman for British Midland said last night that the company has no interest in buying a minority share in any airline, including Aer Lingus.
Referring to media speculation that British Midland was interested in buying a stake in Aer Lingus, the spokesman said there was no substance in that speculation.
When asked about a possible investment in Aer Lingus, British Airways also said that it was company policy not to comment on such issues.
