A subsidy to offset APD as far as I’m aware.

Issues here as already outlined................... you don't want Dublin pax going to Belfast for a "cheaper" fare, there is no clearance facilities in BFS hence if in North Down you can drive to BFS and fly to NYC BUT once you get there you spend 2 hrs queueing to be allowed in V driving to Dublin, landing in NYC as a domestic flight.

Economics / practicalities do not make sense.

Where does this two hour figure come from - is it peak time, average? and who knows what it will be like while aviation recovers?

If Aer Lingus can get good money to fly a/c which will otherwise be idle, I would imagine they'll look at anything.

EI reversing some of the recent pay and roster cuts;

From RTÉ, 19th Sept 2020https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0919/1166159-aer-lingus/

JAS

"Aer Lingus UK" has entered high level discussions with senior British Government officials about operating direct services from the UK to the US according to Irish reporting.

Aer Lingus UK? That would be British Airways surely??:=

On one hand I think it makes so little sense in IAGs strategy. But on the other, having smaller cheaper aircraft flying TATL might be the winner in the near term.

Presumably Aer Lingus would need to be named in any seperate UK-US air agreement post-Brexit?

Indeed, and on T&Cs probably much less generous than BA. if these services were to operate from LHR, LGW or MAN then BALPA and the cabin crew unions may well have something to say about it.

Good point; and is such a new agreement in place, or is that another post-Brexit disaster waiting in the wings to happen.

Likely to be MAN and/or EDI.

BALPA? BA just ripped up the old contracts and put everyone into one fleet based on Mixed Fleet. They're paid a benchmarked market rate, the generous old contracts are gone.

As for operating UK-US, fair play, but they'll be openinf new routes with zero market share which given where are is brave. I bet the airports will through money at them though, any port in a storm. I suspect United might walk away from GLA, but the US carriers are way more likely to fight it out at EDI.

They could replace AA out of Edinburgh

I’m hearing behind the scenes that it is MAN that is the primary focus. One would be forgiven for thinking that IAG turning the screw on VS is a high consideration.

Yes, far more likely. Will be short lived wherever they attempt.

MAN-SNN-NYC perhaps?.....now, where have I heard that one before?!

Linking two airports at neither of which you have a hub. Really?

It was pretty successful, but only operated for winter season. Very popular at the time with the front of house pax.

Pax ex Man were able to pre clear US immigration during the SNN transit stop. Again this proved very popular.

There was no point trying to continue into the summer season as all the seat capacity was taken ex Ireland.

At the time SNN were responsible for the costs of that aircraft and were looking for a way to increase utilisation and revenue when the aircraft would otherwise sit idle.

At the time Aer Lingus already had a significant 5th freedom operation through Man.

Why would they need to go via SNN?
lingus have got A321XLR on order - easy to go UK>US direct cheaply from marginal airports.

also, why assume mainland UK. Last I checked Belfast is in the union and might make sense for Lingus to have an operation there, especially if the boarder issue means passengers from NI can no longer easily travel south to get a flight from DUB

I understand that indeed talks have been had with BFS but I would presume in the current climate all airports are talking to everyone about opportunities for new routes.

It should be noted that when EI did operate the MD from BFS by a country mile most passengers only went as far as SNN for weekend breaks etc. The aircraft though was crammed with pallets of freight. Regularly pax bags bulk loaded to accommodate the cargo.