Hopefully it won't be too long before they rejoin OW and we can start logging and using miles with them. I have a few miles I need to burn up and I have been patiently waiting for this (trying to avoid YQ)

The money bit:

No YQ? Perhaps it will be "lower YQ" like Iberia?

It would be nice to welcome EI back to oneworld, IMO.

Not likely, I am sure we will all be paying those outrageous YQ to fund this acquisition take over.

This is a disappointing turn of events for me. As of now I could use BA to redeem on EI for little YQ. Once BA takes over, I don't expect the YQ to stay the same.

Might. Might not. IAG has shown no inclination yet to rectify the YQ difference between BA and IB. So long as those charges don't increase to BA levels, for those with AA miles, this brings online more options for travel to Europe, especially given BA's interest in continuing to expand EI's TATL footprint.

As some businesses have found, it can be better to own your lower-priced competition and keep (and control) those price differences than to have to fight those differences with a competitor you don't control. Increasing competition from the Middle Eastern carriers will likely prompt IAG to keep EI's pricing structure, including YQ, where it is.

Clearly IAG are very focussed on EI.

Walsh swaps sunny Kuala Lumpur for sunny Dublin:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ngus-deal.html

Dusseldorf the first new route as IAG grows Cork Airport services

It is understood that talks on the IAG takeover underpinned Aer Lingus’s decision to establish the service.

The news came last night as more details on IAG’s specific proposals for Cork Airport emerged, including the seven-year guarantee on the London Heathrow slots, commitments to continue the Paris and Amsterdam services, and a commitment to further exploit the short-haul opportunities provided by IAG’s expansive European network.

European Affairs Minister Dara Murphy said the proposed sale would be “just the catalyst for growth” Cork Airport has been waiting for after years of falling passengers numbers.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...es-333262.html

IAG boss Willie Walsh wants expanded Aer Lingus to target Asian destinations
 

Interesting if they manage to do it. China is and has been a wish list for DUB. Either by a Chinese carrier ( most likely ) and to a much lesser extent Aer Lingus. The Far East has been looked a few times at DUB HQ but it was always considered too risky. If anyone can make it work IAG can as it will bring in much needed experience of the Chinese market and even then its been tough.

Sort of OT, but still interesting:

Dublin has crept up from last year's 6th, to this summer's 5th, busiest European airport for transatlantic seats on the basis of these figures:

http://www.anna.aero/wp-content/uplo...tes-in-S15.png

Full article here.

Snips and bits from the been today (link):

"The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Ryanair must cut its stake in Aer Lingus from 29.8% to 5%."

Ryanair appealed, the High Court affirmed in April; Ryanair has appealed to the Supreme Court since.

"If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it could lead to a lengthy delay in the takeover of Aer Lingus by IAG."

and the denouement: "Mr O'Leary recently said his company would consider any offer from IAG for its shares but it is believed that he wants further concessions from IAG, including a number of its slots at Heathrow airport." Not to mention a better price.

BBC © 2015

And what would Ryanair do with these slots at Heathrow??? :rolleyes:

(As far as I know, he can't do anything with these slots - such as sell them on or lease them out - unless he has used them himself. It's the same reason why Aer Lingus's slots could not be sold/given to an entity like the Irish Government. So is he going to slot-sit and base an FR jet at LHR for a season (or however long it takes) just to then be able to sell/lease them out??)

I truly hope that the SC refuses to hear their case.

RTE reporting that EU Competition Authority are due to rule on the takeover on July 15. Unspecified concessions offered by IAG to mitigate competition concerns. http://www.rte.ie/news/business/2015...ag-aer-lingus/

Ryanair votes to accept IAG offer for Aer Lingus
Deal would pave way for British Airways owner IAG’s €1.3bn takeover of Aer Lingus

Ryanair said it will accept IAG’s offer for its stake in Aer Lingus, paving the way for the British Airways-owner’s €1.3 billion takeover of the Irish carrier to go ahead.
European Union approval for the deal is now the last remaining hurdle to IAG’s plan to buy Aer Lingus and build a new transatlantic hub at Dublin airport.
IAG’s bid for Aer Lingus had been conditional on agreement from Europe’s biggest budget airline Ryanair, which holds a 30 per cent stake in Aer Lingus.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/t...ngus-1.2280218