Thanks everyone, for all your insightful comments and observations. It is much appreciated, and for someone like me who is doing a project on behalf of someone much more worthy and important, it has been a lifesaver.
Here's a teaser for you. If an airline operates under someone elses AOC, does anyone know an average charge or cost? The reason I ask is, that as some of you may know, an Irish operator went under recently, and costs were apparently a contributory factor.
I was just hoping someone might have a ballpark figure that I can work with. HELP!