Aer Lingus sells Futura stake

Aer Lingus has sold its 20 per cent stake in Spanish charter airline Futura International for €11.3 million.

In a statement released to the Irish Stock Exchange this morning, Aer Lingus said the sale brings to a conclusion its divestment strategy of non-core activities.

Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus chief executive said: "Aer Lingus will now continue to focus on developing our core short haul and long haul networks in order to deliver sustainable profitable growth for the future."

Aer Lingus's sale of its minority shareholding is part of the purchase of Futura by UK private equity firm, Hutton Collins, and Futura management.