On the point of EIR and EI its worth remembering that EI is the client and as its their colours and brand at stake they will have a good sway in planning. From the outset EI have stated EIR was designed to help them expand into regional routes where they couldn't utilise an A320 size aircraft and deliver high frequency, and also of course to feed transatlantic (although clearly this isn't their aim at Knock). EI have also said in recent months that one of the purposes of the franchise was to grow routes to a point where they can operate them, one quoted route was EDI-DUB, that doesn't however mean they have capacity to operate it at present or there isn't richer pickings to be had elsewhere. Whilst I'm glad to see them on the route and another carrier at Knock it is somewhat concerning to see the capacity halved and the concern would be the same effect BE have had on MAN-NOC, the best hope for the shorter term is as has been stated they top up capacity at least at weekends.