BRUSSELS (aero.de, dpa) - Ryanair has appealed against the ban on the proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by the European Commission's objections. In a statement, Ryanair described the end of June by European competition watchdogs imposed veto as "unlawful and politically motivated. "Now the European Court of First Instance ruling on the takeover. Ryanair already holds a stake of 29.4 percent in Aer Lingus.
The European Commission blocked the purchase of additional shares with an unprecedented veto. The danger of a quasi- monopoly of the new alliance on routes to and from Dublin decided that the Commission in Brussels in June after a seven-month competitive review. has never crossed the EU's competition watchdog a merger in the airline industry.
The acquisition would have the two leading airlines operating from Ireland combined. In European traffic to and from Dublin they had feared a share of 80 percent. The Commission Disadvantages and higher prices for more than 14 million airline passengers flying each year to and from Ireland. "The consolidation of the industry should not happen on the backs of consumers," urged EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. Brussels since 2004 had prevented any business combination more.
The Dutch Commissioner said that the concessions offered by Ryanair, as the waiver of landing rights (slots) were not sufficient. Only on 22 Ireland routes Ryanair / Aer Lingus would have a classic monopoly. A key argument for the competition watchdog was that new competitors of the merged company would have had no chance. Ryanair was for "his aggressive retaliation" against new competitors known, it is in Brussels for an unusual clarity.
Kroes also rejected the argument O `Leary returned to Europe just to get combined company a market share of five percent. I am getting a dominant position in Ireland traffic, she said. Ryanair is now with 40 million passengers a year (2006) one of the largest airlines in the world.
The Commission examined in the air transport industry for the first time a merger of airlines that have the same home base - have - in this case Dublin. In recent years, had concentrations of major airlines in Brussels, such as Air France / KLM or Lufthansa / Swiss, regardless of the size of the companies does not pose any major competition issues.
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