Ryanair demands meeting

The Irish airline Ryanair said it would pursue Aer Lingus directors for a breach of company law if the former state carrier refuses again to hold an extraordinary general meeting.

Ryanair, Aer Lingus's largest shareholder with a near 30 per cent stake, said it had the right to request a meeting at which it wanted to discuss Aer Lingus's €400m (£344m) pension deficit and a tax settlement.

Aer Lingus, which said last week that the requisition to hold a meeting was not properly made and that Ryanair was using its shareholding simply to harass a competitor, once again rejected the call.

Ryanair, which has been a thorn in its fellow carrier's side for years with constant criticism of its management and performance, said the decision was not up to Aer Lingus.