I wonder what the overheads are to run LFAT - not cheap I'm sure. I also wonder if the mayor appreciates the commercial value of the airport to his area. And I wonder where the income comes from to keep the airport operational.
Despite what you might imagine, the airport is reputed to run at a substantial loss - thanks in part to their inability to attract a commercial service beyond Lydd-Air and the like. A few 737 charters in the summer doesn't cut the mustard.
Whilst the apron looks packed on sunny Sundays in July, there are large numbers of days in the year when it is substantially empty.
Where does the money come from... well funnily enough, it comes from the Le Touquet Tax Payer. The airport is owned by SEMAT, an organisation owned and run by the Town. It receives a grant each year from, amongst others, the Mayor's office.
2D