Isn't it strange also, that just as the prospect of an FR takeover of EI arises, there seems to be a door for EI employees to take, to cash in their shares in the event of a takeover, with the added incentive of whatever tax deal FR works out?
Is DM/EI walking into a trap here? MO'L has clearly cottoned on to this ...
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusin...10007814.shtml
Alternatively, could it be that DM has finally tumbled to the realisation that EI's best hope of success on t/a routes - even when the stopover ratio is reduced - is to have FR on board as a partner? When the ratio is relaxed, the US carriers will make life very hard for EI, not just in the knowledge that EI might be leaning towards FR - something which they don't want to see happen, but also because if they can operate 3 flights to DUB for every 1 to SNN, they'd be mad not to. Whatever way you cut it, the intensity of competition on t/a routes is likely to increase drastically and maybe EI realises that the 12-14 acft it has been talking of won't be nearly enough - not just for survival, but to take advantage of the major opportunities ahead - but in order to take full advantage, EI needs the help of FR.
I suspect that DM is playing a very clever game; it could, of course, be a very serious error, but I'd like to give him the benefit of doubt ...