Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) has immediately announced that it will appeal following the official announcement of the European Commission's decision to veto Ryanair's takeover offer for Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin International) saying that the deal would lead to higher fares for Irish consumers due to a monopoly situation on 46 routes from Ireland. Ryanair had offered to transfer some aircraft, staff and routes to flybe. (2002) (Exeter) and to allow British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) to acquire Aer Lingus' slots at London Heathrow in an attempt to get European Commission approval for the proposed acquisition. In other news, Ryanair has announced that it would cut its flights from Spanish airports by 12% from the end of March due to airport departure tax increases by Spanish airport authority AENA. As part of the cuts, Ryanair will pull out of Asturias and Bilbao completely. It currently serves Asturias from Barcelona El Prat, Gran Canaria, Madrid Barajas and Tenerife Sur and Bilbao from Barcelona, Düsseldorf Weeze, Las Palmas and Madrid. The route from Weeze to Bilbao will be transferred to Santander.