Am I being thick here but is it not the case that the market's not really there? If Ryanair need to virtually fly for free and still can't make money, isn't that a telling clue?
Aer Lingus serve London but are in no hurry to open up services into Europe due to the threat that Ryanair would jump on the bandwagon. I think easyJet have enough fish to fry without getting into a bloody war in Ryanairs backyard.
What market do you have in Knock? or in Kerry? or in Galway? answer: there is a market to fly people. If we keep thinking in a way that sounds like as if we are afraid of releasing the wrath of FR ,then, certainly, there will be little hope. But if we think in a way in that, thanks in no small part to FR, SAA has been forced to reduce the airport cost base, then, maybe, there is a hope to keep looking for business out there. As it has happenened with BA.Very limited service to Shannon, very true, but better than nothing.And that is the way to go. The west coast of Ireland will not remain scatterly populated for ever. Is the Government going to close Shannon airport in the meanwhile? There has been over 3 million people flying through Shannon in recent years. for whatever the reasons. but that's the figure.
Now, FR has been playing around with Shannon (and other airports, and millions of customers) for many years. Maybe is time for any airport to start playing and paying back. Maybe is time to go back to FR competitors and make a compromise to offer them better deals than to ryanair, and see if they are interested or not. Nothing personal. Pure business. Like FR does.