Lofty is talking through a hole in his hat. He is also a very long way from being the 'middle man'. He is simply a point of contact for flybe at OAT, and now that flybe have what they want, Lofty is very much out of the loop.
And the next time OAT crow about their great working relationship with the airlines, ask Lofty why after being in the job almost 3 years he thinks DD is a Captain? Failed to do his research there.