The West country "buses" have indeed arrived all at once.
However, to say that flybe is opening a "major base" at LBA seems inaccurate as no aircraft will actually be based here. Both of the SOU and EXT flights originate at the southern ends. One flight a day might be right for EXT but I would think that SOU would deserve two flights on week days. The day return business pax will still have to use Eastern and pay their non LoCo fares.
The flybe press statement says 280,000 seats will be offered from LBA, though they do not indicate what period these will cover. As the schedule stands there will be 780 seats per week day, fewer on Saturday and Sunday, when both new routes start. At that rate it will take more than a year to operate 280,000 seats worth. Is there something else in the pipeline?
PTH