<<......they wish to carry on as a franchise and do not wish to be subsumed into BA ....>>
Sorry, if I gave the impression that the work was to ne subsumed into BA.
What is proposed - I am informed - is rather than the Franchisees' work being subsumed into BA, the opposite is to take place. BA SH (and MH) work is to be reorganised with the work farmed out to the Franchisees as described previously with only the BA pilots being seconded to the Franchisees.
The high cost of the BA SH operation is not due to the cost of the pilots but due to the cost of the cabin crew and ground staff. The Franchisees have said that it will take them 12months to train enough staff of their own and set up improved scheduling systems so Summer 05 will be the date by which all this happens.