Ryanair last night instructed its lawyers to apply to Britain’s Court of Appeal for permission to appeal the recent ruling of the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal allowing regulators to investigate the carrier’s holding in rival Aer Lingus.
Earlier yesterday, the tribunal had refused Ryanair permission to appeal its ruling from earlier this month. However it said the carrier could ask the Court of Appeal directly for permission to challenge the ruling.
Ryanair had argued before the tribunal that it was not within the UK Competition Commission’s jurisdiction to investigate its almost 30 per cent stake in Aer Lingus but the tribunal rejected this. The failed appeal has run alongside a fresh takeover bid from Ryanair for Aer Lingus, made in June.
Britain’s Office of Fair Trading previously ruled that Ryanair’s ownership of a minority stake in Aer Lingus threatened competition in the British airline market and asked the Competition Commission to consider sanctions.
The commission, unlike the Office of Fair Trading, has the power to force Ryanair to divest its stake.