Aer Lingus boss in Ryanair blast

It said its rival's 29pc stake in the airline should not be maintained in the long run.

The two airlines have been locked in a bitter dispute for months over Aer Lingus' large pension deficit and the absence of a dividend payment by Aer Lingus. "We believe that the context in which you frame your proposals is a continuing attempt to de-focus and distract management with consequent potential implications for performance and, as such, are not in the best interests of all shareholders," said Aer Lingus chairman Colm Barrington, above, in a letter to Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary.

Ryanair has twice had attempts to take over Aer Lingus rebuffed on competition grounds.