Corporate planning director Stephen Kavanagh is to head long-haul operations while chief financial officer Sean Coyle will oversee short-haul operations. All three managers also retain their current responsibilities. Aer Lingus is to look at capacity needs for winter 2009-10 in light of possible fleet and route changes and says it will provide an update to the situation around the time of its annual general meeting on 5 June. "Against the backdrop of a severe deterioration in operating conditions the board is taking the steps necessary to safeguard the long-term viability of the group," says Aer Lingus chairman Colm Barrington, who took charge of the airline after the sudden departure of chief executive Dermot Mannion earlier this month. In its preliminary first-quarter figures, the carrier says that overall yields have declined sharply since the beginning of the year, down 14.5%.