This isn't a gripe just against excel, and definitely not against those employed there. It IS a post against the UK government practice of opening the doors to the UK domestic market, while most others in the Western world -Especially that of the USA! are very firmly closed to UK airlines. This practice will certainly mean fewer jobs for UK pilots. To those from the USA who have posted here to ask what the problem is, would you honestly tolerate it on your home turf??
As to the argument "it must be legal or something would have been done..", the same regulations govern wet leasing in all European Union (not EEA)countries. This comes under EU regulation 2407/92. The UK government takes a far more liberal interpretation of this rule than any other member state.