<<as o'leary says why did ba not drop prices like low cost airlines instead of grounding planes?>>
Because BA's overheads would mean that we would be losing more money than they already were on those routes. Overheads at BA were a big issue before 11th September.
However, before we all get too carried away you cannot convince me that Ryanair, Easyjet etc. can make money selling tickets for some of the ludicrous prices that we have all seen bandied about just recently.
Good luck to them in operating they way they do. They employ many of my friends and I would not wish them to go bust but I would not be betting large amounts of money that either of them will be around in 5 years time.
I hope I am wrong.