Ryanair expects the European Commission to block its attempt to acquire Aer Lingus

. "We call on the Commission to explain how it can rubber stamp mergers between larger airlines such as Air France/KLM, Lufthansa/Swiss and Lufthansa/Austrian, when these airlines have bigger positions at their home airports than the combined Ryanair/Aer Lingus share at Dublin Airport," said Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. Ryanair, which already owns 25 percent its fellow Irish carrier, will appeal to the European Court of First Instance.