There's an interesting little article on the decision process behind an airline taking on a new long haul route on the Head for Points site here.
We can get better, because we're not dead yet
Interesting piece.
So a bit more to it that just sticking a finger on a map !
One thing they didn't really mention is how being in an alliance or being part of a larger company can affect decisions.
BA for example may want to start routes to South America but in doing so it could adversley affect the existing IB routes.
Ditto with VS and DL where a new VS route (e.g. LHR-ATL) may be new for VS but isn't as far as thhe wider partnership.
