Lo-co's are about growing the market, and that is what Flybe would do on the HUY-ABZ route. I agree that the route would not be chocca on Flybe, but with a Q400 and it's low operating costs, I'm fairly confident a reasonable return could be achieved.
The Flybe issue is about much more than just Aberdeen.
HUY and DSA both have advantages.
DSA
Advantages:
Market for DSA-EDI, DSA-GLA and DSA-BHD is stronger than from HUY. DSA could sustain at least twice daily ops to these 3 destinations.
No competition on the AMS route.
Market for French regional destinations is strong at DSA.
Larger catchment area.
Disadvantages:
Thomsonfly, already established lo-co.
Hotly rumoured BE expansion at LBA to French regional airports, would BE fly from BOTH LBA and DSA to these places? Unlikely.
Sun routes already in place, no sense in competing.
Dublin is already taken, are are Jersey and Paris.
HUY
Advantages:
Excellent opportunity on sun routes such as Alicante, Malaga, Faro and Palma.
No competiton to Dublin, Jersey and Paris.
Excellent reputation amongst regional population.
Disadvantages:
Limited domestic potential. EDI and GLA markets debateable.
Competition on the ABZ and AMS routes.
Little demand for regional French destinations.
To sum up, DSA offers Domestic and French advantages, and HUY offers sun routes and no lo-co competition. It is unlikely that any decision will be made in the near future by Flybe, but the evidence is there, and neither HUY OR DSA is a dead cert as yet.
Regards
Mike