According to prepared remarks from EC vice president of competition policy Joaquín Almunia for a Wednesday press briefing, the acquisition "would have directly harmed passengers, who would have had to pay higher fares as a result." EC identified "very significant competition concerns" on 46 routes, including 28 which "would have simply led to a monopoly." EC deemed the
remedies proposed by Ryanair as "not sufficient given the seriousness of the competition problems at stake." In 2007 it similarly prohibited Ryanair from purchasing its fellow Irish carrier. Ryanair again reiterated its intention to appeal the decision.