I have been reading through all the threads on the Heathrow issue. It's very interesting reading. I wonder if there is a backdoor for CO to enter Heathrow. According to some of the posts, the CAA (hope I got that right) doesn't place restrictions on the number of British carriers. First off, I am assuming that if a British carrier applied for the route, it would stand a chance of getting permission, at least on the UK side. If the DOT hesitated, maybe there has to be a US component to the deal. Here's my plan.

Maybe Continental should talk to flyBE. Let's say flyBE were to apply for LHR/EWR rights, could the carrier lease Continental equipment and crews to run the service for them? The flight could be a codeshare: technically, a flyBE flight with a CO codeshare. flyBE doesn't have a base in LHR; it would have to have a presence there. I don't know if this idea would fly (no pun). The idea of flyBE with transatlantic service is kind of wacky, but if someone had told me twenty years ago the British Midland would fly to the US, I would have giggled at the one!