Customer loyalty usually only ends with price. Whether it's easy's main base or not dosen't really matter. The most important thing from a consumer point of view is the price of the ticket. The main winner here is the consumer, giving them more choice on certain routes. Aer Lingus' costbase will be as low as any other operaters out of Gatwick when the base opens. LGW is not BFS either. BA as it happens will be pulling off certain routes and reducing frequency on others to allow this to happen, so in effect both airlines have agreed on a replacement of service rather than an additional operator on the route. In return BA will have access to one of Aer Lingus' current LHR BFS slots. The Dublin- London City route operated by BA Cityflyer on behalf of BA is now bookable on the Aer Lingus website, with EI taking a small chunk of the revenue. LGW-DUB will double in frequency on a codeshare basis. A deal has been struck by both airlines in connection with this announcement today. No cash changed hands for EI to get these LGW slots. In my opinion once established in the base the next A330 due to Aer Lingus will be London bound. All will be revelaed with further announcement due shortly.
Last edited by Lord Lardy; 19th Dec 2008 at 20:33.