Aer Lingus chairman John Sharman says customers of the airline should be able to buy shares in the company in its proposed privatisation.
Until now financial experts had expected that any flotation of the company would be targeted at financial institutions following the poor performance of Eircom shares.
Mr Sharman said the decision on the marketing of Aer Lingus shares was up to the Government. He was speaking at a ceremony to mark Aer Lingus's winning the 'Airline of the Year 2005' award.
The awards are organised by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland's Air Transport Users Council (ATUC). Air France, Bmi and Ryanair also won category awards.
