Odd then that BA uplifted 389,000 passsengers between UK regions and their hub in October, compared to 184,000 for the MEB3 in the same month.
BA start a 4 x daily service between Leeds and Heathrow this weekend. That will give them 7 regional spokes into LHR vs 4 departure points covered by the MEB3. BA provide coverage in N.I. and Yorkshir, unlike the middle east carriers
Odd also that the supposed poster boy for "regionalisation" - Lufthansa, announced this week that they would be making a swaithe of cost cutting measures on their long-haul business. They explicitly blamed competition from the gulf carriers and reiterated their claims of unfair competition from govt funded airport development in the middle east.
Whether they are right or wrong on this matter, the fact remains that the dual or multi-hub strategy they have in Germany has not so far proved a defence against Emirates and the others.