Aer Lingus this week indicated for the first time that its priority lay in developing transatlantic business; the State-owned airline is now likely to try to interest one of the big US airlines in entering an alliance and taking an equity stake.

However, the company will have a lot of persuading to do to fulfil this wish. The willingness of the major US airlines to enter such an arrangement remains to be seen - particularly as many have opened new direct routes to Europe over the past couple of years. And whatever about an alliance, reaching an agreement for a partner to take a share in Aer Lingus may prove especially difficult.