Aer Lingus Group plc: Trading update

Dublin & London, 20 May 2014: Aer Lingus Group plc (“Aer Lingus”) today issues an update in respect of April 2014 trading and the threatened industrial action by the IMPACT trade union.

Aer Lingus is pleased to report that it traded positively in April 2014 with short haul, long haul and retail all performing strongly in the month. Even allowing for the timing of Easter, total revenues generated in April 2014 were substantially ahead of prior year and Aer Lingus’ operating result for the month was significantly ahead of management’s expectations.

However, the unwarranted 24 hour industrial action by the IMPACT trade union, deliberately timed to occur just before the seasonally important June bank holiday weekend in Ireland, has considerably damaged Aer Lingus’ forward booking profile. IMPACT has also indicated to Aer Lingus that it will issue further notice of industrial action in due course. Management’s current assessment is that the adverse effect of the strike called for 30 May will offset the potential revenue gains which would otherwise have been realised by Aer Lingus.

Further announcements will be made as appropriate.