From memory, LBA was seen as British Midland territory and so it was fine for Manx Airlines Europe or Loganair to fly the route BUT when Manx Airlines Europe flew under the British Airways Express banner, that was tanks on the lawn territory, a step too far. Remember it was the original JE/MNX that flew into LHR, not BA/MXE which stayed out of Midland's way. I think this one route was a uncomfortably close to breaking the Chinese Walls of competition with the Airlines of Britain group against BA.