Longhaul/shorthaul
I think its the business market that missing, without which longhaul wont work. Man & Bhx both have it, but there is next to nothing from EMA other than Eastern (ABZ) & bmi (BRU) no lounges to speak of either. Same with ski flights very little from EMA other than LoCo's and a few Austrian Arrows which is nothing when compared with BHX or MAN?
PIA/Emirates would work just as well and its got to be a lot easier putting a 777 down on a long runway into wind rather than a shortish one thats across it so there must be something else missing, DHL hub is without doubt a big plus, unless you live at Kings Newton............