Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

The Irish government has accepted a cash offer from British Airways parent International Consolidated Airlines Group for its 25-percent stake in Aer Lingus, IAG announced Tuesday. However, the €1.4 billion offer remains subject to acceptance by 29.8-percent shareholder Ryanair, which has yet to indicate whether or not it will block the deal. In a nod to conditions placed on the sale by the government, IAG said it has agreed that Aer Lingus would retain all its existing slots at London Heathrow Airport. It also committed to maintaining Aer Lingus’s current daily winter and summer scheduled frequencies between London Heathrow and Dublin, Cork and Shannon for at least seven years after the acquisition.

 


In a statement issued Tuesday, IAG said Aer Lingus will operate all of its scheduled international air transport passenger services under the Aer Lingus brand, and maintain Aer Lingus as its registered name and its head office and place of incorporation in the Republic of Ireland.

 


It added that the acquisition carries “a compelling strategic and financial rationale for the IAG Group at an attractive price for Aer Lingus shareholders,” and that it would substantially benefit both IAG and Aer Lingus customers through an enhanced network, particularly to North America, using Dublin as a natural gateway hub for transatlantic routes.

 


“Aer Lingus, Ireland and IAG would all benefit from this deal,” said IAG chief executive Willie Walsh. “Aer Lingus would maintain control of its brand and operation while gaining strength as part of a profitable and sustainable airline group in an industry that's consolidating. Ireland’s vital air links to Europe and North America would be enhanced, creating new jobs, with cast-iron guarantees on ownership of Aer Lingus' Heathrow slots and their use on flights to Dublin, Cork and Shannon. Acquiring Aer Lingus would add a fourth competitive, cost effective airline to IAG, enabling us to develop our network using Dublin as a hub between the UK, continental Europe and North America, generating additional financial value for our shareholders.”

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