A business lobby group representing air travellers said the Government and unions should seriously consider any proposed buyout of Aer Lingus as this may be the best way of keeping the airline in Irish ownership.
Mr Tadhg Kearney of the Air Transport Users' Council (ATUC) said Mr Willie Walsh's successful transformation of Aer Lingus meant that the future of the company, particularly as an Irish-based company, might best be served by an MBO involving workers and other stakeholders.
Mr Tadhg Kearney of the Air Transport Users' Council
Given Aer Lingus's strategic importance, Mr Kearney said that any decision on the airline's future should ensure that it continues as an Irish-based carrier providing a wide range of services, particularly on transatlantic routes.
Mr Kearney said Aer Lingus's strong management and its good financial health merited serious consideration of a buyout and if such a bid can satisfy governance and other transparency issues.
He added: "Before certain interests knock this proposal they should give it the opportunity of a full and unprejudiced examination and only reject it if it does not hold water.
"It is somewhat disappointing that already certain bodies including SIPTU have already come out against the proposal despite the fact that there are suggestions in the media that the employees in Aer Lingus could end up with 25 per cent of the company," Mr Kearney said.
ATUC is affiliated to the the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.