Nigel - Yes, I'm familiar with Air India's track-record over the years. I remember the A310 schedule via Rome very well. Indeed, that is partly why I don't wish to see a replay of Air India playing off one airport against another as they have done in the past. Bangladesh Biman have behaved similarly in more recent times - that worked out well! Messing about with the schedules as these two carriers have done undermines the credibility of the service and disrupts the opportunity to build loyalty and momentum in either market. Far better to develop standalone services from both BHX and MAN and develop them on their own merits.
Slightly off-topic: Seljuk22 has posted Emirates forthcoming network changes over on the 'Emirates' thread. No mention of the rumoured switch to a third daily A388 on MAN-DXB effective 01 Dec. But other changes are outlined elsewhere on the network effective from that date. I fear the third daily A388 rumour may have been a bit premature.