I first heard that thomsonfly were starting from CVT long before they launched to the public. Around the time the "Britannia Express" topic was hot on this board. At that time I also heard that TUI were looking into buying into the airport. So not too sure if this is a "desparate measure", perhaps more of the wider picture.
In the Cov Telegraph today a WDC spokeman said "We had lost confidence in Air Atlantique as the airport operator"... so maybe they are feeling in the right hands the airport could work. Coventry City Council also quite pro airport.
Good for TUI, good for the airport. Lets get a decent operation going here.