Irish budget carrier Ryanair has reiterated its criticism of airberlin's asset fire sale, despite reports that more than 10 parties are in talks with the insolvent airline.

Airberlin's chief executive Thomas Winkelmann has said the airline will be parcelled off to "two or three bidders" rather than sold solely to Lufthansa.

 

Last week, Ryanair alleged airberlin's assets would be sold to Lufthansa in a "conspiracy" designed to deliver a monopoly to the Germany's national carrier and ultimately thwart the Irish airline's expansion in Germany.

 

Ryanair ceo Michael O'Leary had called for a "fair and open" sales process, but Germany's deputy Economy minister Matthias Machnig has refuted the accusations, insisting that O'Leary is welcome to play a role in airberlin's restructuring. "I am entirely willing to discuss the matter," Machnig said.

 

Meanwhile, easyJet and Thomas Cook's German airline Condor reportedly are involved in the carve-up talks.

 

The German government has provided a EUR150 million bridging loan to keep the carrier flying until November.

 

Ryanair called the emergency cash "state aid" and claimed the intervention would "drive domestic air fares in Germany even higher than they already are".

 

Media reports say Lufthansa intends to buy up to 70 of airberlin's planes and to hire 2,000-3,000 of its 8,600 employees.