Well, LS' additional routes from NCL up the game a bit, but this also turns up the heat on U2, who haven't had the best of summers on Tyneside.
Maybe Mr M is just rubbing salt into the situation, or could this be a bluff to squeeze MME for a deal? The economics of one based aircraft would not be so good for an outsider, but LS have already done something similar at BLK,whereas baby are now focussing on an axis which includes BHX, EMA and MAN. Should we really rule LS out completely? Or, after AH's constant bleatings about airport costs, could U2 ever be tempted to switch bases?
Interesting times ahead.