For lost cities we can also add KL to the list and its somewhat outdated to think about Manila and Jakarta as low yield. For the Middle East carriers that maybe so because they are carrying hoards of overseas workers to work in the Gulf. For example the UK is the largest foreign investor in the Philippines, hence the Presidents visit to the UK last year. SE Asia is a market nearly the size of China in terms of population and attractiveness.
There is strong one world competition from CX and MH also Garuda and
PR have both stated they want to open up to London.
BA still have the same agent in Manila and their own check in desk with the first leg on CX via HKG. This is about routes that have been served in the recent past
However the game changer could be what the B787 and A350 was designed for, long thin direct routes bypassing the need to stops at hubs.
Could it be the antidote to Middle East Carriers for premium passengers who prefer a nights rest rather than a wake up call in the middle of the night to change aircraft in the gulf! It gets my vote