I'd like to add this. I know that I'm as old as my tongue and a little older than. My teeth but I go back a long way and my memory is as clear as a bell in certain matters. Do you not think that some of the enhancements come from the fact that there is no more British competition within Europe? Do you remember when there was NO catering on the Shuttles and you used to buy your ticket on board. The. Along came cheeky little BD offering Meals with wine (on the tray in those funny shaped bottles ?) and a full bar service with big bottles not miniatures. Those DC9s were barely off the runway and they'd be out and attach the bar trolley to seats as it was so steep? Suddenly along came Super Shuttle with the same on those 757 ( or 1-11 back ups?). We at BCAL always did meals in those 1-11 but we were not Heathrow based.

The battle is over. What BA could not beat, it bought. They chucked us the South American routes as they made huge losses. We made them profitable and then they wanted them back.

Forgive me but oddly enough I mourn BMI as it became. I loved that rather 'old' spirit that it still maintained and how it remained a thorn in BAs side. Now it's gone, and so has a standard that BA was forced to maintain.