Aer Lingus chief executive Willie Walsh predicts the airline will make profits of over €70m this year, and at least a €45m profit in 2002.
In an interview with the Financial Times Walsh explained how radical reforms undertaken last year, including around 2,000 job cuts, had moved the company away from a situation in 2001 where it made losses of €27m.
Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan is expected to hold talks with the company about a partial privatisation in the coming weeks.
The interview with a high profile international newspaper like the Financial Times may be a way of the company raising its profile with potential investors.
