I like the idea that somebody might do this, but I don't see the US airlines setting up shop in Martinique or French Guiana - will OpenSkies give them the right to fly to third countries ex-EU?

I have seen the article on Clipperton Island. It's quite small. Certainly not enough shopping space for BAA to be interested. I don't think the environmental lobby would count against it, though: it's too far to protest conveniently and, as Mitterand said to Thatcher (ironically) of the Channel Tunnel TGV "When you drain the swamp, you don't ask the frogs' permission." :-)

I think the point about there not being enough local traffic is a generally good one. However, Singapore and Hong Kong have capitalised on the transhipment of passengers to destinations beyond countries in their economic sphere of influence (which for much of the 20th C. were dirt poor anyway), because of the Kangaroo routes. Perhaps what French Guiana needs is a dose of Chinese immigration, or a growth of interest in the Llama/Capybara route?

I had not realised that Miami had been an effective Iberia hub - perhaps finding a way to connect Latin America without a US transit would be enough? Maybe the other, more obvious opportunities of Open Skies (consolidation, merger etc.) might free up some metal for an experiment?