Ryanair / Aer Lingus merger inquiry

The Competition Commission investigated the acquisition by Ryanair of a 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus and required Ryanair to sell its stake down to 5%.

From:
Competition and Markets Authority
Published
1 October 2015
Case type:
Mergers
Case state:
Closed
Market sector:
Transport
Outcome:
Mergers - phase 2 clearance with remedies
Opened:
15 June 2012
Closed:
1 October 2015

Administrative timetable

  • Revised on 26 June 2013 as required by Rule 6 of the Competition Commission Rules of Procedure
Phase 2 Action
5 September 2013 Statutory deadline
August 2013 Publish final report
June 2013 Response hearing(s)
May 2013 Notify provisional findings and consider possible remedies
30 April 2013 Deadline for all parties’ responses/submissions required before provisional findings
April/May 2013 Main party hearings, verifying information, considering provisional findings
Early March 2013 Publish statement of issues
December 2012 to March 2013 Gathering information, hearing third parties
June to July 2012 Gathering information, issuing questionnaires
15 June 2012 Merger reference made

Remedy implementation

Remedy group appointed

11 June 2015: Following the making of The Ryanair Holdings plc and Aer Lingus Group plc Inquiry Order 2015, the remedy group has now been appointed.

Simon Polito (Chairman), Professor Alasdair Smith, John Wotton.

Phase 2

Date of referral: 15.06.12 Statutory deadline: 05.09.13

Contact

Email: Ryanair.Aerlingus@cma.gsi.gov.uk

Order

11 June 2015: The CMA has made its final order requiring Ryanair to sell its 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus Group plc down to 5%, as set out in its report.

Final decision on change of circumstances

Provisional decision on change of circumstances

Consideration of possible change of circumstances

Court of Appeal judgment

12 February 2015: The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Ryanair against a judgment made by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) to uphold the decision to require Ryanair to reduce its stake in Aer Lingus.

Undertakings

Evidence

Responses to provisional findings report and notice of possible remedies

Summaries of hearings held with third parties

Initial submissions

News releases

Core documents

Phase 1

Ryanair / Aer Lingus

Decisions

15 June 2012 - Reference

Affected market: Airlines

SIC code: 62.10/1

Completed acquisition by Ryanair Holdings plc of a minority stake in Aer Lingus Group plc

Affected market: Airlines No. ME/4694/10

Referred

Completed acquisition by Ryanair Holdings plc of a minority interest in Aer Lingus Group plc

Published 1 October 2015
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