I think it will take a massive cultural shift in BA (and maybe also in our London-centric British society as a whole, but that's a jetblastish issue...) before BA launch transatlantic services from any regional airport, let alone NCL. I'd love to see it happen but I fear not.
On a positive note (I can be positive occasionally
) it looks like Ryanair starts in March. Springtime and Autumn are generally pleasant in Madrid. If some of the small-c conservative North East public can be convinced that Castile is indeed more interesting than the Costas, which it certainly is to me anyway, then it could well work.