Ryanair is to appeal to the UK Supreme Court in an ongoing battle over its holding in Aer Lingus.
The Irish budget carrier pledged to continue its legal fight against a UK Competition and Markets Authority order for it to sell most of its 29% stake in rival Aer Lingus.
The airline was responding after the Court of Appeal rejected Ryanair’s appeal against the CMA decision.
Ryanair also called for a formal review of the CMA’s final report following recent takeover offers by British Airways parent International Airlines Group for Aer Lingus.
“Clearly, IAG’s recent offers demonstrate that the CMA’s findings were wrong and that its divestment remedies must be revoked in light of this compelling evidence,” the airline said.
A spokesman said that lawyers had been instructed to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling to the UK Supreme Court.
“Additionally, Ryanair has now requested a formal review by the CMA of its final report, and a withdrawal of the divestment remedy, in light of the recent IAG offers for Aer Lingus, which wholly disprove the CMA’s unsubstantiated claim that Ryanair’s shareholding somehow prevented other airlines from merging with or bidding for Aer Lingus,” he said.
“Clearly the CMA’s case has now been totally undermined by the IAG offers.”