Well if you were to take the politics out of everything, Cork Airport may not have been built at all, and probably not where it was built..
And as for Shannon moving from the Foynes? Another political move. All airports created were with political backing, bar Knock.
While Ryanair did chase Easyjet off Cork - Gatwick, it was Easyjet that chased BMIbaby off the same route first, ultimately getting rid of that great little airline from Cork in the process.
I'm not sure they can really be compared, bmibaby's Gatwick operation attempt failed ridiculously they launched LGW-ORK/PRG/MAD to name but a few the whole venture bar Cork lasted the Winter, they continued the LGW route from Cork, daily using a Manchester plane - easyJet arrive early January 2005 with double daily services, much better option for travelling passengers. bmibaby it should be remembered operated from Cork to Birmingham, Cardiff, Durham Tees Valley, East Midlands and Manchester at one stage or another well past easyJet's exit up until around 2010, the airline closed two years later.
Is there any possibly of any expansion from EI / EIR for S15 especially with FR cutting back on routes in favour of SNN. Looks like there is not much capacity without either having to base additional aircraft.
Would definitely think so in S15, Stobart aren't going to lose money for the sake of it. Not with there current management team.