LOW-COST airline Ryanair has been thwarted in its bid to buy up rival Aer Lingus – on the same day as it unveiled plans for more flights from Yorkshire’s leading airport.

European Union judges dismissed a legal challenge by Ryanair to the European Commission’s refusal to allow it to buy the entire Aer Lingus share capital.

The judges also rejected a separate action by Aer Lingus, which opposed the Commission’s refusal to go further and force Ryanair to give up its existing stake in Ireland’s national carrier.

The Commission found itself fending off actions by both airlines in a tussle which started when Ryanair bought a 19.16% share in Aer Lingus after it was privatised in 2006.

Soon afterwards Ryanair launched a public bid to buy the entire share capital – only for the Commission to declare the proposed merger illegal under EU competition rules.

Ryanair bought more shares anyway, taking its stake to 29.3% and prompting Aer Lingus to ask the Commission to order Ryanair to sell its stake.

The judges’ verdict came as Ryanair announced plans to fly new routes from Leeds-Bradford Airport this winter – in a move which will increase passenger numbers to 1m a year and safeguard up to 1,000 jobs.

Ryanair will operate two aircraft with 13 routes, including new services to and from Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Gdansk and Fuerteventura.

The airport is one of only a few UK airports to grow its winter schedule – and one of only two sites where Ryanair is not slashing capacity.

Airport commercial director Tony Hallwood said the latest move made Leeds-Bradford one of the fastest growing airports in the UK and underlined Ryanair’s commitment to the region.

He said: “We are introducing more routes as part of our planned investment and to encourage more people to fly locally and encourage overseas travellers to see Yorkshire as a destination for business and leisure.

“We are now looking to grow the programme further in 2011.”