Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, has called for an emergency general meeting of shareholders in Aer Lingus, its Irish rival, as the feud between the carriers reached a new low.

Ryanair has been blocked by the European Commission from launching a full takeover of Aer Lingus, but it continues to exert influence through its 29.4 per cent shareholding.

It wants the EGM to force Aer Lingus’s directors to reverse a decision to drop flights from Shannon on the west coast of the Irish Republic to Heathrow in favour of a new base at Belfast airport in Northern Ireland.

Ryanair believes that if its rival operated the Shannon route more efficiently, it could generate an extra €4 million (£2.7 million) a year in profits.

This has created an unusual situation, in which Aer Lingus’s keenest competitor is urging it to be more profitable.

Ryanair insists that it is acting only to protect its financial stake, which last month it confirmed had increased by 4 per cent to 29.4 per cent. However, given the fierce competition between the two Irish carriers, ulterior motives are suspected and Aer Lingus has been trying to block the call for an EGM.

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, said: “If a 10 per cent shareholder asks for an EGM to be held, they must hold an EGM.”

Aer Lingus made no comment yesterday but last week it said that Ryanair’s proposals were anticompetitive.

Ryanair will need to gain the support of more than 50 per cent of shareholders for its proposal to reinstate the Shannon-Heathrow service to be adopted. This could be difficult as the Irish Government holds 25 per cent and pilot, cabin crew and ground staff own a further 18 per cent. These groups have all lobbied against Ryanair’s involvement since its first takeover approach was made last October. According to correspondence between the airlines, Aer Lingus has spent €24 million fending off Ryanair since then.

Last week Aer Lingus reported that its profits in the first half of this year had fallen from €16.3 million to €6.8 million.

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