Why would BA go after a route between LHR and NQY? They sold their business off in the west country before and we got Air Southwest, before which they moved the route to LGW. They also tried a LGW NQY route for a time, although Ryanair were on STN NQY at the same time.
If BA see so many long haul or other destinations internationally that they want to operate slot permitted, there is no case for a marginal domestic route, unless of course they are trying to keep the competition authority happy and trying to ally their fears as the bmi integration is being completed.
EI-BUD