An interesting article on Ireland's corporate merger and acqusitions scene between. Aer Lingus and Ryanair.

"A former Aer Lingus boss has said the future of the airline can only be secured if it merges with another airline – as long as that airline isn't Ryanair.

Willie Walsh, who left the airline in 2005 and is now Chief Executive of British Airways, said Aer Lingus' future was now uncertain due to a variety of factors, and that the airline should consider a merger.

Addressing the future of the two Irish airlines - both of which operate from Northern Ireland airports - he told the Jim Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick: "Given what has happened to the economy and given the way Aer Lingus has struggled in recent times, I think you could make an argument that its future as an independent carrier is not that secure and maybe Aer Lingus does need to look at a relationship with some other carrier or a number of other carriers."