bmi could make MAN work but then decided to bump up prices too much so as to render their services unprofitable. However, there is scope for additional Star alliance services to be added.
I disagree about airline partnerships with BA - there is only finite room for those airlines to to keep adding to LHR frequency and capacity as they have been doing since being encouraged to leave MAN, with addtional AA routes to come over the next 5 to 10 years. We know that Qantas is not coming back but Jetstar will by looking to take up the challenge but that's 4 to 5 years away. They need the 787 to be ready now.
Virgin is hamstrung by not having enough aircraft of the right size to launch more routes outside London; it's been reported elsewhere that 2011 is expected to see Las Vegas and Antigua launched with Barbados back to 2 weekly. Having A330s and 787s will make more routes more "doable".
For low cost/low price services, both easyJet and Flybe will steadily add frequency and/or destinations. The unknown quantities are are going to be bmibaby and Jet2