With Stobart now operating SEN-DUB for Flybe, offering T/A connectivity, I was wondering whether Stobart may, in the long run, have cut their own throat here.
30% of EI trans Atlantic pax originate in the UK, Stobart/EI regional provides a big chunk of those. Flybe are bigger, better known and better resourced. With the relationship already begun (I assume Flybe website will be offering US destinations from SEN through DUB now), it seems it would make more sense for EI to partner with Flybe than Stobart when their current contract expires. And seeing as Aer Arann is no more and Stobart are not an Irish company, EI would be under no government pressure to protect them.
I'm curious as to what others may think of this