Originally Posted by
davidjpowell
The money is coming from the SYMCA region, and if it makes financial sense for the region (not forgetting as a region they can look for a wider benefit than a direct profit from the airport), then so be it.
What is this wider benefit to south Yorkshire of subsidising DSA as an airport ? In 2019, I didn't see many succesful business-oriented routes, routes with inbound tourism or other routes that might lead to a boost specifically to south Yorkshire's economy. Flybe was not a successful airline. Wizzair are in serious financial trouble (even apart from the P&W engine issue) - they are cutting routes to the UK outside London, not growing them. The only real benefit I can think of is that people living in south Yorkshire have a shorter journey time and possibly pay slightly less when they head off to a Mediterranean beach. Lot of public money to spend on making it easier to get to a beach outside the UK. Lot of public money that could be spent on other infrastructure with a year-round benefit in south Yorkshire.
The people of Kent and Lancashire (both of which have larger populations than south Yorkshire) both seem to have realised that it's just not necessary to spend large amounts of money to have their "own" passenger airport when there's a very large and busy one with plenty of routes relatively nearby. Instead Kent and Lancashire councils spend their funds on things that will make a real difference to their residents' lives instead of boasting about the size of their p***s extension