Aer Lingus wants US partner JetBlue Airways to acquire its State holding

Aer Lingus wants to offload 25 percent of its stake being held by the Irish government to its US partner JetBlue Airways.

The airline’s senior management team has already held talks with the US low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways regarding acquiring a stake in the leading Irish carrier.

At a time when the Irish government is contemplating to sell its 25 percent holding in the airline, JetBlue Airways has emerged as Aer Lingus management’s preferred trade investor for the simple reason that both the carriers operate similar business models and don’t compete with each other head-to-head on any routes.

Aer Lingus and JetBlue Airways are already into a sales agreement ever since April 2008.

The agreement has allowed Aer Lingus passengers flying into Boston and New York with JetBlue Airways services to 37 destinations in the US. Similarly, the customers of JetBlue Airways are also able to connect with Aer Lingus flights services to Ireland.

Aer Lingus recently released its full year results in February, and said that about 100 passengers a day are connecting between the two carriers.