Unless Gill are getting a subsidy from someone to operate this route, it will fail.
I used to fly it for them several years ago when it had a subsidy from Manchester Airport (I think that's BAA not BA!) Sometimes we had around 20 or so pax - more often than not tho' it was just a handful - literally.
I do remember it with some fondness though. We used to arrive in MAN around 07:30 and not leave until around 9:30 - I think. Plenty of time to go up to the staff canteen and get a great cheap breakfast. We didn't even have a Flight Engineer to lead the way!
Used to watch the Cathay? 744 taxy past the (upstairs) departure lounge and only dream that we might one day fly such a beasty.
Ahh, those were the days!!
ATB,
Underdog