Ryanair to bid for 90 Alitalia aircraft

Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, has confirmed that the airline will be submitting an offer for 90 aircraft, with their pilots, cabin crew, routes, from Alitalia by the deadline of October 2. Ryanair would operate the 90 leased planes using existing staff, but Alitalia would be required to maintain the Airbus aircraft. O’Leary says the long-haul fleet and routes are the most attractive aspects of the deal, which have the capacity to grow very strongly. Ryanair is prohibited under EU rules from bidding for the whole of Alitalia, which would take it share of the Italian market above 50%.