Time to bite the bullet and sell Aer Lingus
There are many good reasons for the state to rebuff Willie Walsh and not sell its 25.1 per cent stake in Aer Lingus to his IAG group. The airline, after all, is not just a company but a vital cog in the national infrastructure. It is a strong, profit
However, political expediency and electoral impact in certain pockets of Dublin and Shannon is not a good reason for retaining the stake. The state has long maintained a mantra that it would sell its stake to the right buyer at the right price. Analysts believe that the IAG bid is the right price, and that IAG is certainly the right suitor.
In the next two weeks, a government-appointed working group will report back ...
