LTNman,
New video on the airports website shows how they connected all the pieces of the footbridge together, should answer your questions.
Giles
Don't think it was a case of use it or lose it as they have had two nightstoppers this summer.
S17 at the moment still has
Monarch 4 based , Thomson 3 based, Ryanair 5 based.
The unknown at the moment is Easyjet currently 19 a/c based but we will have to wait a while until the schedules are out.