Nigel,
I thought the comparison between BHX's twinning and the new MAN route was valid.
BHX announces a twinning in the hope of getting a route to Tobago, yet MAN just gets out there and gets the route.
Same with ORD, BHX twins in the hope if a route, EDI just got out there and got the route.
Sometimes talk can be good, but then other times it can just be long winded when other airports just announce the route without all this 'negotiation/twinning' bluster.