TY - JOUR
T1 - Constructing the ‘Public Interest’
T2 - (De)legitimizing the Acquisition of Aer Lingus by IAG
AU - Fitzgerald, Joseph K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 IMI.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This article assesses how the ‘Public Interest’ was used to (de)legitimize the acquisition of a national airline. It does this by adopting a case study approach that analyses the acquisition of Aer Lingus by International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG). This acquisition is part of a broader trend of international consolidation that the aviation industry has experienced in recent years. The article also critiques whether the ‘Public Interest’ was constructed on valid grounds. Its analysis found that the public interest was constructed as the continuance of routes between Irish airports and London Heathrow as a means for Ireland to maintain international connectivity. However, this article questions the validity of how the ‘Public Interest’ was constructed, suggesting that although the Public Interest does appear to be served by maintaining international connectivity, it is less clear whether connectivity with London Heathrow serves the interests of the public. Notwithstanding this critique, IAG was able to successfully use the maintenance of the Public Interest to successfully execute its acquisition of Aer Lingus.
AB - This article assesses how the ‘Public Interest’ was used to (de)legitimize the acquisition of a national airline. It does this by adopting a case study approach that analyses the acquisition of Aer Lingus by International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG). This acquisition is part of a broader trend of international consolidation that the aviation industry has experienced in recent years. The article also critiques whether the ‘Public Interest’ was constructed on valid grounds. Its analysis found that the public interest was constructed as the continuance of routes between Irish airports and London Heathrow as a means for Ireland to maintain international connectivity. However, this article questions the validity of how the ‘Public Interest’ was constructed, suggesting that although the Public Interest does appear to be served by maintaining international connectivity, it is less clear whether connectivity with London Heathrow serves the interests of the public. Notwithstanding this critique, IAG was able to successfully use the maintenance of the Public Interest to successfully execute its acquisition of Aer Lingus.
KW - Mergers & acquisitions
KW - public interest
KW - public policy
KW - strategy legitimation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85166620391&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/09721509231182529
DO - 10.1177/09721509231182529
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85166620391
SN - 0972-1509
JO - Global Business Review
JF - Global Business Review
ER -