Bartrams,
Some good input.
Another factor that I believe will influence the futuure is T5.
If T5, when opened, delivers on the promises of both BA and the BAA in that it will smooth the interline process and be an efficient and pleasurable experience; then LHR may recover some of the lost interline traffic routing through other European hubs. If it does not deliver then more passengers will look for alternatives.
Whereas I have no reason to defend the mangement at DTV I wonder just how much influence they really have in the decision process of an airline. If BMI want to use their LHR slots for more profitable routes than DTV I'm not sure what the DTV management are expected to do to keep the route. Basically, they will be damned whatever they do as the loss of a route will be seen as a failure; and only huge financial incentives might prevent the change and then they will be castigated when there will be no money for development. Devil and the deep blue sea....
GH