bral
Just a quick point. You said, "why this 100 seat restriction? Wow... are 125 seat a/c so different?
Absolutely not!
Cut the apron strings, stand on your own 2 feet, call yourself, 'Air Weston Super Mare', sell tickets under your own name, and repaint your a/c, and you can fly B747-400s for all BA pilots care.
Same goes for BMed, GB, and GSS.
Your call!