Ryanair said it’s “genuinely interested” in bidding for insolvent Air Berlin and called on the German company to involve it in the sale process. Ryanair could buy all or part of Air Berlin but has so far been ignored by the ailing carrier, according to CEO Michael O’Leary, who said Wednesday he’s concerned the company will be handed to Lufthansa n an anti-competitive, all-German deal. While Ryanair has generally eschewed takeovers and pursued market share through organic growth and cut-price fares, an exception could be made for Air Berlin given its strong position in Europe’s largest economy, O’Leary said. He didn’t comment on whether Ryanair has any interest in its long-haul routes. “There are not that many carriers with 25% of the German market that have come up for sale,” O’Leary said. “There are lots of other airlines that would be interested in Air Berlin if this was an arms-length, transparent bankruptcy. But it’s very far from that.” O’Leary said he’s concerned that politicians are seeking to rush through a deal with Lufthansa, where Air Berlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann worked for 18 years, before Germany’s general election and queried whether the company needs a E150m loan at the height of the profitable summer season. The handling of Air Berlin’s insolvency contrasts with the bankruptcy of Alitalia, where “everyone is able to make a binding offer,” O’Leary said. “What’s happening in Germany is the absolute opposite.”<br/>