I dont agree that LGW was a bad choice of base
I think going up against Easyjet directly was an even bigger mistake . Easyjet like to put themselves in the low fares with care and convenience category similar to Aer Lingus's low fares way better. EI could have avoided going head to head with Easyjet at Gatwick. How incompetent were management they never learned their lesson at belfast going up against easy. Clowns ! It is very difficult to see aer lingus remaining independent. Having a strategy of just serving a small island like Ireland is madness.