EI-BUD,
I haven't been in RE for quite a while but having talked with some who's still there the RE loads are still very good, hence increased frequency on the route. You are probably right that MOL donesn't give up easily but the 738 is not the optimum plane on that route, the ATR is!
Even with very low ticket prizes you only need about 15-20 pax to break even in the ATR, it takes a lot more for a 737. With the ticket prizes FR are selling that Boeing has to be quite full to break even.
The time difference between the two aircrafts on that route is only 5-10 minutes. The Boeing will burn about 3ish tons of fuel where the ATR will only burn around 500-600 kg on that route.
Don't forget the competetion from the railway link too.
So as Tom the Tenor says with free coffee and a newspaper I think the frequent traveller takes RE any time.
For the DUB-KIR route I seriously doubt the government will ever give give FR a pso route, not in our lifetime
