iwhak
Please point me to a source showing RE's IOM-LCY reliability is, as you say, very good. Local experience after the introduction of the -42s suggests otherwise.
I'm not sure what you are saying about Air Contractors. I've flown on an older -72 which other posters have identified as their aircraft, and yes of course the flights were operated and crewed by Aer Arann. My reference to AC was to distinguish the aircraft from the newer -72s which came when the route opened, and left after a year.