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Aerlingus expects once again to resist the hostile bid from Ryanair. Colm Barrington, the chairman of the airline confirmed to the daily Irish Times "his willingness to get rid of the threat” posed by the first European low-cost company. The group is seeking to prevent Ryanair, which already holds 29.8 % of the capital of the airline company, to take control.

Aerlingus intends to find a new partner, but is aware that this is not the right time to do so because of the financial crisis. The chairman of the group confirmed that he did not see any "perfect partner" in the current landscape of air transport, but he said that Air France-KLM may be one. The group is considered by many analysts as a potential buyer. "From a consumer and Irish point of view, Air France-KLM would be a better option than Ryanair", said Colm Barrington at the Irish daily," but we have not received any phone call yet", he said. Air France-KLM which is currently under discussion with Alitalia, would have therefore not yet cleared its position towards Aerlingus.