Why did TUI choose Coventry? It's obvious, they wish to stick the knife in the MyTravel group. Where better than to split the midlands catchment area in two as a start. TUI cannot lose, those pax they pull of EMA and BHX are only onto their own flights out of Coventry, but they will still pull many from other tour operators/loco's in the area as a bonus, but the bottom line is they know every passenger off a MYT or MYL flight out of either airport (be it loco or IT) is another nail in the coffin for MyTravel. TUI know that the demise of MyTravel has the potential to reap rewards that makes the investment in Coventry looks like small change.
Maybe if they get rid of MYT, that'll be the end of ThomsonFly - job done! Hannover 1 Manchester Utd 0.
They were well aware of the limitations of Coventry, or even of the management, they are not stupid. Most people thought EMA was the back up plan - why? TUI gain nothing!. It seems now like buying the airport was the back up plan. Maybe it was all planned, maybe they were in negotiations with the council all along to get rid of Air Atlantique - who know's! time will tell on that one.
From a marketing perspective, "there's no news like bad news!" If we all listned to the Ryanair bad press - they would have gone bancrupt a long time ago.
There's a lot more to this one than meets the eye!