Agreed and that's my point, its only a monopoly in to LHR in addition there are many flights serving London's other airports from all these places, so i don't understand what the fuss is about?
But a monopoly from Heathrow to where? It gives further chances for BA to "rationalise" - ie reduce regional connectivity within the UK to LHR by transferring slots to long haul, with no chance of an alternative short haul operator getting slots to start replacement routes. It is not just UK routes either; I suspect bmi Dublin services will be withdrawn, handing a monopoly to Aer Lingus - who of course already codeshare with BA on this route. So it does have issues other than in west London, and indeed the UK.
MD