Well, if EI are to use some 777s for those exotic long haul flights to Dubai, China and Hong Kong etc why not tease out Boeing just a little bit more and order one or two new build 767-200ER or 767-300ER for new transatlantic flights ex Cork? That is, if the stopover does ever go - I am not holding my breath for too long on that though whilst the stopover farce is allowed to continue.
