Quote:
"Pressure on Aerlingus to opt for Belfast must be huge. Political significance of this shouldn't be underestimated"
I think that's very true; I would have expected BHX to be more attractive as a potential base; however, I think it's particularly significant that a lot of the political pressure and persuasion has come not necessary from the expected quarter (Bertie & Co.), but from the likes of Jeffrey Donaldson, in whose constituency BFS lies.
When you have a person like JD, who a few years ago would have been as likely to welcome EI to BFS as Pres. Ahmedinejad would be to welcome EL AL to Tehran, you can see how far things have advanced politically in NI. The very fact that there is political peace in NI will hopefully drive economic success and that can only help EI.
My concern is not about the political reaction in NI, but what MO'L and FR will do in response; was he serious about setting up a base at BHD?