Sorry guys, but the route will have little to do with O&D traffic, which you are correct about (that's why we don't have a flight already). This is all about connections. How many people visit The Netherlands? KLM makes it work with an A330. Take the existing O&D, which draws from well over 10 million on the Texas end, and add business, and connections through a mega-hub and a useful EU entry point, and there is no reason to doubt the success of the route.
It's all about the potential of what a combined EI/BA/IB would mean in terms of growing Aer Lingus and DUB. Would you agree that AA could make it work? Because that is exactly what will be happening. EI will join the JV with AA and BA, and it would be both airlines on the route, regardless of who's metal does the flying. Unfortunately this also means we could get screwed with a AA 763 doing the flying, but I would guess EI is a better fit.
BigDman wrote:I doubt that EI would expend their limited resources on such an insignificant market
"Insignificant market"? Way off the mark, even as concerns Ireland. Don't rule out any AA hub (well, maybe PHX). Hell, if AUS can get a BA 777 with effectively no US connections, I think we could sustain an A332.