I am aware of instances in Ireland, north and south of people who book a ticket to a UK airport e.g. MAN, LHR, BHX and travel onwards with another on a separate ticket to a final destination in China. E.g. a guy I work travels about 2 times per year BFS to MAN and then on a separate ticket does MAN CDG WUH (Wuhan, China). Works out an awful lots cheaper.
Though this is a small sample, it does highlight that there might well be much more demand than the 18k per annum suggested, also a direct flight with some marketing in china by Bord Failte might make Ireland an attractive destination.
Few would have expected both a DUB DXB and a DUB AUH route to work as well as they have. Yes these carriers have huge connectivity at their respective hubs, the opportunities are no always easy to quantify in advance. Great to see progress at DUB nonetheless.
EI-BUD