Editing Aer Lingus (section)

==== First Ryanair takeover bid (2006) ====
On 5 October 2006, Ryanair launched a bid to buy Aer Lingus. Ryanair CEO [[Michael O'Leary (Ryanair)|Michael O'Leary]] said the move was a "unique opportunity" to form an Irish airline. The "new" airline would carry over 50&nbsp;million passengers a year. Ryanair said it had bought a 16% stake in Aer Lingus and was offering €2.80 for the remaining shares, a premium over the €2.20 the shares were trading for. The firm was trading at €1.13bn but Ryanair's offer valued it at €1.48bn.<ref name=Reject>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5408780.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Aer Lingus rejects Ryanair offer |date=5 October 2006 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=15 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115082045/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5408780.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> On the same day Aer Lingus rejected Ryanair's takeover bid.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1005/ryanair-business.html |title=Aer Lingus says no as Ryanair ups stake |work=RTÉ News |date=5 October 2006 |access-date=17 April 2011 |archive-date=11 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311153624/http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1005/ryanair-business.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 October 2006, Ryanair confirmed it had raised its stake to 19.2%, and said it had no problem in the Irish Government keeping its 28.3%.  ''[[The Irish Times]]'' reported that the Government would possibly seek judgement from the courts, and referral to competition authorities in Dublin – although this would be automatic under European regulation, as the combined group would control 78% of the Dublin – London passenger air traffic.<ref name=Lifts>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5412002.stm | work=BBC News | title=Ryanair lifts stake in Aer Lingus | date=6 October 2006 | access-date=23 April 2010 | archive-date=9 October 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009214848/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5412002.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 29 November 2006, Ryanair confirmed it had taken its stake to 26.2%.<ref name="Elderfield">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=29 November 2006 |title=O'Leary in new ?88m swoop on Aer Lingus |newspaper=[[Irish Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/oleary-in-new-88m-swoop-on-aer-lingus/26357626.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214139/http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1732187&issue_id=14940 |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref>

On 21 December 2006, Ryanair announced it was withdrawing its bid for Aer Lingus, with the intent of pursuing another bid soon after the [[European Commission]] finishes investigating the bid. The EC has been concerned that the takeover would reduce consumer choice and increase fares.<ref name=CNBC>{{cite news| title=Ryanair Withdraws $1.9 Billion Bid for Air Lingus| url=https://www.cnbc.com/2006/12/20/ryanair-withdraws-19-billion-bid-for-air-lingus.html| date=20 December 2006| work=[[CNBC]]| access-date=10 July 2015| agency=[[Associated Press]]| archive-date=12 July 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712063441/http://www.cnbc.com/id/16303484/| url-status=live}}</ref>

On 27 June 2007, the European Commission announced its decision to block the bid on competition grounds saying the two airlines controlled more than 80% of all European flights to and from Dublin Airport.<ref name=Blocked>{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Ryanair's Aer Lingus bid blocked |date=27 June 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6244894.stm |access-date=10 July 2015 |archive-date=12 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712082224/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6244894.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>