Could the EI followers give us a picture of how this might affect EI's current routes, i.e., when the 4 x 320's depart to be fitted out/painted in Virgin colours that's quite a lump of workhorses out of their fleet. Are those 2 x 319's additional or replacement aircraft and when are they due?
Besides EDI-DUB what other routes could be envisaged for the new EIR a/c that could "free up" an existing A319/320 to replace at least one of "the departed"?
Maybe EI might wet-lease in a few of Mick's 738's to take up the slack
2 A319 due very soon
1 A320 for sale and not sold (most recent results by EI)
2 A320 lease ending (intended to be replaced by A319) unlikely to happen so they will be renewed.
Plenty of A320 laying in DUB waiting lease from failed carriers accross Europe.
I don't see any changes to the Irish bases as there is little flexability in summer and EI are not going to close routes that have being on sale with a few months to make way for this. They would have planned for this as they intended to operate EDI and ABZ. The extra aircraft for MAN is the only problem so expect another leased aircraft.
EI took on extra crew last summer at DUB so would expect a higher number this summer and would say there is enough crew to cover in winter.
Overall a very possitive move by EI.