He refused to answer either. What he did think was relevant was his daughter. But she, of course, was absent. The application was refused. IT might upset some people at Shannon Airport but the sooner Aer Lingus is privatised the better.
Industrial turmoil is one thing.
But the main cause of concern must be the loss of the Aer Lingus ethos. Time was when the flying shamrock filled the Irish family worldwide with pride. That was when the national airline traded on the national values of friendliness, community and hospitality. I knew management had lost the plot last week when, on the day one British newspaper was querying Aer Lingus's aviation alliance, another was carrying a double-page Aer Lingus advertisement fronted by an ageing English playboy. Criostoir O'Flynn is a case in point.