"We are well on our way to opening over 3,500 rooms by the full year and beating our 3,000 room target. "We are progressing well with our plans for bolt-ons, extensions and new site openings," he said. Aer Lingus seeks legal advice on Ryanair stake Aer Lingus is to take legal action to force rival carrier Ryanair to sell its stake in Aer Lingus. The move comes after the EU indicated that it had no power to force Ryanair to sell its 29.4%. Philip Lowe, its director general for competition, said the European Commission was based on a decision by its Merger Regulation. This said there was no legal authority to force Ryanair to sell. But the EC's position gives Aer Lingus the right to appeal to it in the European Court. John Sharman, Aer Lingus chairman, said his airline was "fully prepared to face competitive opposition on the runways."