WWW,
you are right low cost airlines do need to keep it simple but thomsonfly is not buying the airport TUI is. OK i know they are one and the same but i'm sure that TUI will put in a management team to run the airport completely seperate to Thomsonfly's own management.
At the end of the day seems like a bloody good plan. Pick up the airport cheap and then start a lowcost airline giving you cheaper or maybe no landing fees and a return from all the pax you bring to the airport. Should work I think. As for the future there's not too many airports left with no low cost airlines so maybe thomsonfly are looking at finningley for their next base.