Aer Lingus chief executive Willie Walsh and two senior executives today left the airline following months of controversy over their plans to set up a rival airline prompted their departure months before their May deadline. Walsh said there had been no conflict of interest.
On leaving the airline Walsh said that to remain successful Aer Lingus had no alternative but to continue with its job cuts and rationalisation plans.
He said job cuts would have to continue. About his plans for the future Walsh said he is considering job offers and considering setting up his own airline.
His departure brings to an end an increasingly tense relationship with the Government after his approach to the Cabinet to privatise the airline was snubbed last summer.
Earlier this week the company's interim chairman John Sharman told the Oireachtas Transport committee that there were some big names interested in the job - from this evening Aer Lingus has no chief executive, finance director or chief operations officer.
