But the point is equally valid.
Emirates - primarily used as a gateway to the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and South East Asia.
Qatar - ditto
Singapore - primarily used as a gateway to South East Asia and Australasia
Malaysian - ditto
So these carriers, along with their US counterparts, are essentially doing what KLM does with its services between MAN and AMS - people just think its more glamarous because the aircraft are bigger and the first leg of the journey is longer. The hub-spoke principle is exactly the same however.
BA (and Virgin) are interested in point to point traffic between destinations where there is a reasonable proportion of high yielding club / first class passengers. Hence they operate to/from LHR which remember is exactly where Sir Michael has lobbyed to be since political circumstances forced his hand to start his long-haul business out of MAN. One would assume that were the MAN market as equally profitable as the LHR market, then bmi would be keeping quiet and banking the cash. They aren't, which tells you perhaps more than anything why BA and Virgin won't be interested.
Its not a conspiracy, its just business I'm afraid.
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