Re: MANCHESTER
MAPLC is owned by the 10 local authorities of Grtr Mcr, yes. MAPLC also owns three other airports apart from MAN, in a separate Ltd company I think - EMA, BOH and HUY (the latter in partnership with a local authority - at least initially).
The purpose of said acquisition (which was funded entirely by debt secured against all four airports - a shame because MAN was debt-free before that, and they paid *well* over the market price for EMA and BOH) enables them to compete against BAA/Peel/TBI etc. in the UK airport marketplace and have a greater voice with Govt etc.
But one significant benefit is to allow them to derive economies of scale in "Group" activities e.g. purchasing, legal, property and facilities development, as well as securing access to new markets for their MAAS subsidiary (car parking, engineering, fire and security). For example they sacked NCP who used to provide car parking at NEMA, and now, after a rigorous and transparent tender process, MAAS provides the car park service. Another subsidiary, MADL, now provides the facilities development function.
NEMA employs its own ATCOs, whereas MAN pays NATS to do it. How will that be flexed to give "Group" benefit? Will MAAS provide security, engineering and fire cover at NEMA in the future? What about these three, plus car parking, at BOH and HUY, where incidentally both MDs are ex-MAN staff?