I'm sure WW is a shrewd man, but some of his comments don't make sense to me.
BA did react to loco and set up a perfectly good operation with GO based at STN, which could have expanded into LHR & LGW. Instead chose to sell. Norwegian are in advanced talks with RYR to interline into longhaul. I don't foresee much BA interest in MAN , which it generally views as a bucket and spade low yield regional.
With the falling £ and the Trump Slump effect, I would guess any westbound expansion is already maxxed out- not to mention the slight pulling back by VS.
As Skipness says east is best- the ME3 offering great product.
The SIA could do better and the CX is a sad token of what they could offer.
I use CX, mostly full, crappy lounge, restricted schedule. My HKG based partner (Gold Marco Polo)used CX once from MAN, his view was never again.(schedule & facilities).