Pete
I think the only glimmers of hope with long haul from BHX (apart from Primera) are the niche charter routes and TUI are certainly showing commitment to BHX on that front. Wouldn't it be great to see 2 x 787 based in the winter?! I'm still amazed that we don't have Vegas and Cuba served from BHX with charter flights.
You are right about Goa and AI 707's but these would not have operated on same days as AI in their original form finished at BHX in 1984, well before Thomson started Goa. So yes another historic first as you say, double India flights from BHX on the same day, Delhi fog depending! Rumour has it that Goa is weekly next winter as opposed to fortnightly so it must have sold well - having been there I'm not surprised.