With BA upgrading IOMLCY to E170 in S16, is it not possible that they will continue to use Easterns IOM crews to fly this aircraft rather than run with the cost of a night stop for their own
I've not checked but are any of Easterns existing routes in need of increased capacity? I've always seen them as a niche, rather than volume operator so I'm not sure that their business model would need this aircraft. I think they'd be crucified if they ever attempted to run SOU sun routes. LGW/BOH are too close for the, not to have to in part compete and the average fare they typically like to charge on existing routes is likely eye watering in comparison.
Happy to be proved wrong but I think it more plausible that Eastern crew will operate BA E170's from IOM when this change happens rather than acquire their own.