If only the CAA had chosen to lease (or been able to lease) aircraft from EU carriers, it might have been possible for a cover-up to have worked until the very last minute
I guess the whole industry will learn in future about the power of inquisitive spotters surfing FR24 and the importance of being more careful about info reaching the public domain. Airport and airline staff can be persuaded to keep quiet (by threat of losing their job if necessary) but FR24 spotters not employed in aviation behave differently.
Twenty years ago, the press would have had no idea about these plans until a press release had been issued