Interesting article in today's Sunday Business Post, an interview with MO'L:
http://www.thepost.ie/post/pages/p/s...325-qqqx=1.asp
Doesn't make particularly good reading from an EI perspective; he's obviously focusing on EI's privatisation next month (as was probably clear from the press release accompanying last week's new route announcement) and trying to scare away potential investors. The question is, how can EI compete with this onslaught? I sincerely hope they can; the prospect of FR being the only major Irish airline is not one I want to entertain.
Is there any way EI can develop short haul routes and protect the markets it's already on, to an extent that FR would be dissuaded from competing head on with them; after all, there are many other untapped markets, as well as opportunities to compete with other, less healthy flag carriers, such as AZ, OA, SK, etc.
One thing is clear: the FR onslaught at DUB makes it all the more important that EI can build its long haul network from DUB as soon as possible. Oct 12th is the big day as far as that's concerned, although there needs to be a "Plan B", in case Open Skies doesn't proceed as planned.