Dannyboy39
2) If these routes were profitable, wouldn't BA (or another airline) be operating them already?
Sadly not. On the airline side, BA bought up the small carriers simply to obtain their LHR slots. The flights were then shoved off to LGW and, eventually sold on. Leaving BA with slots on the cheap.
On the BAA side, following privatisation, the for-profit company naturally went for profit and changed the way it charged airlines. It used to be that airlines were charged per seat on the aircraft. They changed it to per aircraft landing. Thus it cost similar amounts to land a 744 as a 146.
If R3 is ever built, the rules would have to change. But (as i always repeat) no one need worry about that as it won't get built.