240 seats means the A340-300, which therefore surely means ex-LHR....wonder where they'll get the slots from?
Not at all, VS A343s have in the past operated flights from LGW (eg PHC) and look to be operating out of MAN next year. When they did PHC I recall the A343 regularly positioned back and forth from LHR, it's not uncommon, BD (charters) and BA do it sometimes.