Air India
Do not also forget the cargo potential to and from DUB to India is huge. OK SQ may not have been able to fill a 74F frm Dublin to go out that way but i would guess that even a few pallet positions in the belly of a 777 would more than make up for a low pax load upstairs.
But on the whole it does seem to be a story that just wont die. The interesting points of the article are not the AI angle as far as I can see but the mention of other carriers who seem interested all be it none mentioned.
And regarding tow-bars from what I am told from ground engineers that i think it is an inverted 757 tow bar fits an MD11 and such other "tricks" all be it not technically correct but can be done.
Would the DAA want an A340 powering off stand!!!!!!!!