The suggestion seems to be that Eastern are being used as a ‘sprat to catch a mackerel’. Extending that further, they come in as route provers but were never intended to stay on it long term.
Not a daft approach but I wonder if the story is being made to fit a different reality. Eastern really haven’t proven any route other than Aberdeen and Newquay because of COVID.
If things are that simple, I suggest Eastern start flights to Paris, Malaga, Ibiza, Tenerife (probably need a tech stop) and see which seagulls come circling.....😜