Interesting! I think Flybe actually have a franchise agreement with Finnair whereby they will deploy ac on regional routes to feed into Vantaa and Finnairs international network.
I don't know the exact workings of the agreement and indeed I have to wonder how it will be affected by Finnairs purchase of a stake in Finncomm Airlines, to prevent AirBaltic mounting a take over! Finncomm are very similar to Aer Arann except they operate a couple of E-Jets along with the turboprops.
Actually, Finnair would be an interesting case study for EI. They are trying to build Vantaa as a hub for connections between Europe and Asia, they operate mostly Airbus ac (including orders for the A359) and they have recently purchased E190s!! Almost a mirror of the direction EI seem to be taking!
C