Only a guess on my part but UA have a large corporate contract out of Brum that is taking business class seats on most flights, if Brum is not being cut back which is by no means certain it would not surprise me if it's to apease this specific contract.
Bagso - in terms of the marketing for the Charlotte flight or lack thereof it was being advertised heavily around the Midlands right through the winter, as was the Saudia services, they were MAG billboards rather than the airline. As a perception MAG are very good at marketing themselves around here and very good at marketing new routes - you shouldn't always be so hard on them.