French regional councils are nothing like German lander (states), which are perhaps closer to the devolved executives in parts of the UK.
The level of devolution in the UK is nowhere near that enjoyed by the Laender in Germany, particularly Bavaria, which even more a free state than the others.
France is very much more like the UK politically, being overwhelmingly centralised on Paris. There are relatively few domestic air services because France, unlike the UK has properly invested in high speed rail. While the UK goes through endless public consultations, pandering to NIMBYs, the French identify a need and bulldoze the projects through.
they [BA] can no longer make money from non-LHR bases
I don't find myself convinced that BA cannot make money flying from outside London - they just don't want to. You can make figures prove just about anything, the old adidge about "lies, damned lies, and statistics" applies equally to accountancy in so far as how you choose to apportion costs governs whether an operation is deemed profitable or otherwise.