Many thanks for your comments Currock Base. It makes things a bit clearer. My friend did get to GLA without any further delay.
Though from BAladdy's list (thanks for this info BAl!) it would appear that it is now just short-haul & specific destinations suffering several repeated cutbacks to-day which would suggest to me that there maybe something more to it...i.e. lack of passengers on those specific routes so consolidation is implemented?