Surely if you rule out LHR & LGW as connecting hubs ex NQY you are left with the next logical option which would be MAN ?
That doesn't solve the London market but does offer decent worldwide connections ?
Flybe offer connections at MAN and Ek now offer NQY as a destination via several places including MAN, also BHX, LGW and EDI.
Would it be logical for BE, if previous posts are correct and the loads on the Manchester are good to go double daily and offer better connections ?
cs