OK, the Casino News is a blow to Blackpool, there is no doubt about it, and I still find it hard to see how Manchester 'needed' it more than Blackpool, however, there is no point crying over spilt milk, what is done is done.
The airport has an odd place in this whole mix. Of course the Casino would have brought in a lot of additional tourists to the town and the airport would naturally have gained from this.
However, the airport does not, has not and will not solely rely on Blackpool for it's future, its development, growth or passengers. The airport IS the aiport for Lancashire and Cumbria, and as the recent TV and ongoing Radio campaign highlights, Blackpool has emerged as the NORTHWESTS 'New' International Airport. The airport has a secure future, and oddly is the only recent sucess story in Blackpool. The airports role is to serve the counties of Lancashire and Cumbria, both in terms of a convenient departure point but perhaps more crucially as a catalyst for other inward investment. Let us not forget that Lancashire has the highest concentration of Aerospace industry in the country, and this is one small part of a diverse economy. the North West Development Agency regional economic strategy highlights that the lancashire economy should grow by £4bn GVA over the next 5 years and a key compent to achieving this growth is Blackpool Airport. The Casino played a very small part in this overall bigger picture.
With the right support from the key stakeholders, the airport is poised to continue to grow and develop and serve both Blackpool, but more crucially it's wider catchment area.
As for the resort of Blackpool, it will still regenerate and develop. But to keep in context on this forum, as I said above, the airport had a much wider influence.