Re Orlando, back in the day, this market direct from Belfast was huge!! Unijet had a dedicated programme using Leisure International 767's season long for years, meanwhile Airtours had a weekly 767, with additional capacity over the twelth period. At least one year Airtours International operated a Air New Zealand 747 from BFS, think the flight originated in Cardiff.
I remember these flights way back when American Trans Air 757's and L1011's were used by Cheiftain Holidays and American Holidays when they chartered dedicated flights.
Like everything I suppose people get used to not having a direct flight and it becomes the norm having to use DUB or via EWR or LGW. The amount of people that book with Virgin Holidays and route with BE via LGW seems unbelievable, more so than seem to use EWR.
With APD now much lower from BFS, you would think this could be basically taken off the overall cost, so how LGW and MAN can be substancially cheaper is beyond me, now we have this cost advantage.