I don’t think anyone sensible really thought this route would remain long-term even if it was running at 100% loads. It was a marriage of convenience between a politician wanting content for his party’s leaflets, an airline willing to take an incentive and another one needing their valuable slots filled in a crisis. There were always going to be ‘legitimate’ excuses as to why it must end come the time.
I assume someone wants their slots back in time for Half Term?