Also the capital costs of the aircraft are twice as much in the UK as there are only half as many flying days. Visibility 900 metres round here today, except when it was less. Last weekend it was low cloud, weekend before it was windy.
On Vancouver Island I was told "we fly 365 days of the year here, so you don't need to worry about weather stopping you flying". They do too. (Of course it helps not having any low flying rules, and knowing your way around sufficiently well that 900 metres visibility doesn't stop you flying.)