The fact is Aer Lingus have asked Astraeus to provide a service without which is it very likely that the company would have gone under.
Who are you talking about going under here, Aer Lingus or Astreaus? Any reason why the whole operation has been pushed backed from early November to 19th November now? Could it all be a smokescreen? If a deal is struck between EI management and staff on a cost saving plan it may be that no Astreaus or whatever they call themselves crew ever fly any of these routes. Aer Lingus have made no secret of the fact that they want to add more 320's to the Gatwick operation. In my opinion the final arrangement will be that they will end up piggy backing for the winter on the Astraeus AOC and come summer they will lease these extra 320's off Astraeus by which time they will have their own UK AOC. What will happen to all the recently recruited Astraeus pilots then? The aircraft will at that stage fall under the Aer Lingus umberella.