* Competition watchdog orders stake cut to 5 pct from 30 pct

* Says current stake could substantially reduce competition

* Ryanair says to appeal against “bizarre” decision

* Analysts say appeal process could last years

* Ryanair shares down 0.3 pct

(Reuters) – Britain’s competition watchdog ordered Ryanair to sell most of its stake in Irish rival Aer Lingus, a potentially fatal blow to Chief Executive Michael O’Leary’s dream of buying the former flag carrier.

O’Leary immediately vowed to appeal against the “bizarre and manifestly wrong” order to cut Ryanair’s stake to 5 percent from 30 percent, opening the prospect of a legal process that analysts say could last years.

Echoing a ruling by the European Commission in February to block Ryanair’s third bid to take over Aer Lingus, Britain’s Competition Commission said Ryanair’s stake could lead to “a substantial lessening of competition” on some routes.

In addition to cutting the stake, the UK body ordered Ryanair not to seek additional shares or board representation.

The British watchdog claims jurisdiction over the Irish airlines due to 11 routes between Ireland and Britain where Ryanair flights compete with those of Aer Lingus or partner Aer Arann.

Ryanair said the Competition Commission could not lawfully impose any remedies on Ryanair until the completion of Ryanair’s appeal against the European Commission ruling.

O’Leary built up a 30 percent stake in Aer Lingus between 2007 and 2009 as a platform to take over the 75-year-old airline, a purchase that would have capped the rise of his upstart airline that began with one 15-seater plane in 1985.

Ryanair, whose low-cost model has since come to dominate European aviation, carried almost 80 million passengers last year compared with under 10 million at Aer Lingus, and O’Leary says a takeover would allow him to slash his rival’s cost base.

SOURCE REUTERS, Read More..