Sorry Crewmeal
You are talking cobblers.....
You should address that remark to the chambers that were mentioned. I agree with you, I know BA & VA don't want to dilute their services. What the article mentions is the fact that BHX and MAN want more long haul routes. As previously stated carriers will not operate to an aiport that has no traffic and why should they? Airlines are in the business of making money. EK does well because it offers hundreds of connections from DXB. I'm sure UA do well because of the hub at EWR.
The term 'use it or loose it' has been tried and tested at BHX on more than one occasion.