THE 500 guests at the Aer Lingus' launch of the world's first italic shamrock, the centrepiece of the State airline's new corporate image, this week each received a scratch card with a chance to win free air tickets or branded items such as bags and umbrellas.

Some were very surprised at winning nothing as, having made it to Collinstown at dawn on a freezing morning, they presumed that every scratch card was a winner.

But they should have thought again. Maybe under the old, flaccid, State-dependent airline everyone would have won something. But Aer Lingus now styles itself as a commercial airline, and the free market has a lot more losers than winners.