The flights from Cork to Belfast and Dublin are commercial (not PSO routes). They used also fly direct from Cork to Galway but cut it last year. Aer Arann have been flying a double daily between Cork and Belfast for several years and I doubt they would fly to Belfast at a loss. Anytime I've been aboard, the flight was well subscribed.
I think with most airlines in survival mode, the Aer Arann flights between Derry and Cork via Dublin are the best that we can expect for the time being.
However, in the future when the economy recovers, they could introduce direct flights a couple of times a week, perhaps in the summer to connect with the French destinations Aer Arann operate from Cork to Nantes, La Rochelle , Lorient and Brest. Aer Arann operate all the regional flights via Dublin and they also flew to Amsterdam from Galway via Waterford so it is at least a possibility
