I have used both HUY and LBA regularly and will probably use DSA when flights start. I see no reason why both HUY and DSA can't exist together. The catchment area for DSA will clearly eat into HUY's area but not swallow it completely. If HUY's future was so bleak and demand for flights now reduced then why have some flights just been added? IMO the future of both airports:
DSA(within 2-3 yrs)
2 x based locos(Thomsonfly with 4 a/c and Easyjet/Ryanair with 2 a/c)
2 x based Thomsonfly 757s
1 x based other IT a/c(eg FCA)
HUY
About the same operation as now..ie.
1 x KLC F70
2 x EZE J41s
20-25 Holiday flights in summer/5-8 in winter
I don't see KLM moving their operation to DSA; after all they didn't last long at Sheffield before?
There will always be demand for holiday flights from the local area(Hull/Grimsby/Scunthorpe/Lincoln; population total @550,000); all of which are closer to
HUY than DSA.
Regards the Flybe rumour of an ABZ service; I would say demand is proven at HUY but questionable at DSA but then maybe they don't want to go head-to-head with Eastern. I'm fairly sure who would win though..