RW20
First of all welcome to PPRUNE and a fellow Sotonian as well.
I totally agree with your post the management at SOU should be trying to secure these sun routes with alternative airlines as there is without doubt the demand for such routes, although it will be a shame if Flybe actually discontinue the sun routes from SOU it's not as if we haven't been prepared for it and even more of a reason they should be taken over by someone else.