Makes me wonder about EI... has a bunch of 734 and 735 aircraft with ****** all resale value, 319s on order... a tie-up with someone continental to set up an EU LCC [Italy maybe? Austria?] operating some of the 73s would help migrate EI proper to an all-Airbus fleet.
With the long range routes it now plans [VIE, the Sun spots etc], an Airbus with winglets and higher cruise speed [30kts?] would be more suitable than a 734/5 best suited to quick turnaround ops?