The Air India announcement shows some full fare longish haul airlines are interested in BHX, that should add hope to our Qatar aspirations perhaps.
I'm not sure I share the same level of optimism. Air India should perform well; right size aircraft, right frequency, most economical airframe. Hell, if they can't make it work on that basis, they may as well give up before they even start!
I do worry about the draw it will have on Emirates' loads, but stand to eat my words if pax figures prove me wrong over the next twelve months.
That said, Qatar will, I am sure, have weighed up the current situation at BHX with the Air India launch. I think it would be foolhardy for them to launch now, at a time when loads on Emirates are not stellar and with Air India also now claiming market share.
The question which needs to be addressed is whether there currently is the demand for another carrier going east; I'm not convinced.