I doubt UA/Star will be too thrilled at the prospect of their top tier MileagePlus members having to fly on BA to LHR to connect with UA. Currently most of their alternative non-direct options from the UK regions to the USA involve a time consuming backhaul via FRA, BRU or the like. So in the absence of any replacement for Little Red, might UA also consider beefing up service to their US hubs from MAN and the regions ??
Indeed, CO, now part of UA, have a long tradition of running flights from the UK "regions" to its EWR hub. BFS, BHX, BRS, EDI, GLA, and MAN have all had, or still have, these links.
There are a lot of ifs and buts but making very interesting times. Flybe could be holding a trump card because if they stay non aligned things
could get very interesting indeed.
Now all that has to be done is the new terminal and we have places to park everyone.
Yes, BE could clean up here. Theoretically, it could codeshare with all 3 alliances.