I believe that SAA has returned the third A330-200 back to BMI, (used to be put on the JNB-Milan route... but SAA got its own A340s now).

There is always a spare one. I am not sure what BD will do with it. I personally will love the MAN-LAX flight, but BA tried it before and did not work well economically. It may however beat sitting on a ramp all day long. DEN is not a bad option and you get some discount/economic incentive from DEN airport for starting a new route there.

Nevertheless, I am curious why BMI does not use that A330-200 on this high capacity leisure routes. At least it is a way to use the plane.

Carfield

PS. These rumors keep on returning every few months. I hope they will become true one day.