AER LINGUS has put its public relations contract out to tender. It is currently handled by Drury, which has worked for the airline for about eight years and handled its stock market flotation in 2006.

It is understood that nine agencies are lining up on the runway for take-off, including Edelman, Fleishman-Hillard Saunders, Financial Dynamics, Slattery Communications and Q4.

Drury is also thought to be pitching again, for a contract that includes consumer, change management and industrial relations in the brief.

One notable absentee from the process is Murray Consultants, which acts for low-cost rival Ryanair.

The agencies have been asked to present their credentials next week, after which four agencies will be shortlisted with a decision expected in July.

Brian Sparks of Agency Assessments International has been hired by the airline to vet the proposals.

The contract covers Ireland. Rory Godson’s Powerscourt Media advises Aer Lingus in the UK.

Separately, while they might be daggers drawn at boardroom level, it seems that, on the ground, Aer Lingus and Ryanair are happy to co-operate.

I’m told that just last week Aer Lingus leased an aircraft from Ryanair to plug a gap in its fleet caused by one of its own aircraft being in for repair.

As a result, passengers travelling with Aer Lingus from Dublin to Palma found themselves boarding a Ryanair aircraft staffed by its pilots and air hostesses.

By all accounts, some were none too amused.

It proves the old mantra that business is business.