Strafer - you need to understand that Sir Richard couldn't make the service a success in my opinion. Not unless he could charge £20,000+ a ticket; which I think the market would not support.
With the French half of the fleet grounded the BA fleet had to bear all the support costs and that was simply too much. Airbus aren't won't shan't can't support the aircraft any longer. So if you want spare parts forget it. If you want modifcations done to keep it legal forget it. If something goes wrong don't phone the manufacturer.
You CAN'T operate the aircraft for passenger service under this situation whether you are BA, Sir Richard or the man on the moon.
What might have happened is Sir Richard would have publicly tried it and then every other week he would pop up on the telly claiming BA Dirty Tricks because of this or that snag. In the end he might concede defeat and adopt an "aw shucks - I tried but BA beat me"
PR attitude.
This would lack dignity for the aircraft and too my mind would not be fair play.
Cheers
WWW