Losses widen at Aer Lingus
AER LINGUS yesterday said its half-year losses before tax widened 14.2 per cent to €28.2m (£24.7m), on revenues up five per cent at €657.9m.
Costs rose 6.9 per cent, which the firm said was partly due to one-off expenses linked to an increase in transatlantic services and the launch of Little Red, Virgin Atlantic’s short-haul service that uses planes and crew from Aer Lingus.
The firm expects operating profit for 2013 to be flat on last year.
Meanwhile Ryanair launched extra flights between the UK and Ireland in a bid to prove to the Competition Commission that its near-30 per cent stake in Aer Lingus does not lessen competition on the route.