Aer Lingus profits grow
Irish airline Aer Lingus yesterday reported a 4.4 per cent rise in operating profit to €94.9m (£79.9m) for the three months to the end of September, as a 0.9 per cent drop in passengers was offset by tight cost control. The firm said tough competition on fares in Europe had kept a lid on growth, echoing rival Ryanair’s comments from earlier in the week. Aer Lingus maintained its full-year operating profit forecast at around €60m.