Mr. Joe Thompson:

In responding to that, it is important to look at different groups of customers and consumers. Ryanair is a phenomenal airline and a formidable competitor for certain types of traffic, but it does not address all the needs of the market. There are two specific customer groups that Ryanair does not address, but over which Aer Lingus and British Airways have the dominant position. The first group is time-sensitive point-to-point customers, particularly those who value access to Heathrow, as well as the depth of schedule and proximity to central London that Heathrow offers. That cannot be replicated by Ryanair's current schedule.

The second group is connecting customers. That is because Ryanair, which is a hugely successful and impressive no-frills low-cost carrier, does not offer interline connections with other carriers. The competition that Ryanair provides only addresses part of the market, and the interests of those other groups need to be reflected.