Quote: "If SRB and Virgin are really serious at attempting a feeder for their longhaul, then their best solution would have been to negotiate with MOL to take over the EI routes into LHR (which could also be used to feed DL routes).
Nothing to negotiate.
Quote: "Apparently though, they have lost that battle (if not yet the war) as MOL has signed a MOU with BA/IAG."
Hedging bets perhaps?
Quote: "Having said that, I think there is an awful lot of water to pass under the bridge before any deal for RYR to take over EI is done and dusted, let alone the RYR MOU with BA/IAG to be passed.
We are nowhere near the end game on this .... "
Can't see it happening, the Irish govt won't sell its share of EI to FR, and even if FR was able to takeover EI somehow, the EU would doubtless have something to say on the matter, so a "remedy" situation could exist for the divestment of slots.