As for the use of Titan Airways, it should not be a surprise. Titan also help out Loganair (Old boy’s school?). What’s the saying – ‘an airplane only makes money when it’s in the air’ or ‘you give me work, and I’ll give you favourable rates’
Wasn't there an old rule that such sub-charters had to be offered to UK licence holders first (or they had the right to object to non-UK operators if they had the available capacity). Is this correct, and does it still apply?