Pay cuts never
Now you are being silly if you thing we are going to take a cut in allowances to operate e.g. from BHX.
To do a JFK from BHX you have to have the a/c there you have to have a back-up somewhere else. BA tried this some years ago with a 757 which was full but did not make a great deal of profit on top of this there were. hotel accomodation the night before the flt as we could not afford the cost of employing crew locally for this service, resident engineering costs, equipment and training of ground staff, storage of spares and equipment to cover world traveller and club. So the costs ran on.
On top of that the 757 from the passenger perspective was only a limited sucess as it only provided two bogs for about 120 plus econ travellers. Single isle long haul is not a choice. Many readers will remember the JFK's on 707/VC10.
Those overseas carriers that you quote are I believe to be chapter 11 or in serious debts even with UK airport charges as minimal to encourage them.
Services are limited and are often under threat. So for once BA is displaying creditable management that is not swept along by local emotions.