"Next year, I foresee the potential to grow to nine ATRs, adding new Cork to UK routes, and linking Cork with northern France," says managing director Padraig O'Ceidigh. Focusing on Cork to UK routes, outside Aer Lingus's and Ryanair's mainly Dublin-based services, Aer Arann Express's transition to international operations has been accelerated by the loss of two of its five subsidised public service obligation contracts to western Ireland. The contract for the Dublin to Sligo and Dublin to Donegal routes will be transferred to Euroceltic Airways on 22 July. Meanwhile, Euroceltic, which has its operating base in London Luton, is flying a leased Fokker 50 on its Waterford to Luton route. To revive its Waterford to Liverpool route, four ex-Aer Lingus Fokker 50s have been acquired to supplement its two Fokker F27s.