Tinpis
Do you really think logic, economics, or common sense could possibly have anything to do with this???
It's all to do with empire building, and setting up disguiesed aviation monopolies so the fat cats in the cities can sell some new aeroplanes. And the military and customs people can sit "fat dumb and happy "in their camps near our capital cities.
Let's face it, our government has built lot's of little towns in remote areas, most with about 50 or 100 people and no industry. So people live on "sit down money" and there is a requirement for the rest of us to have a permit to go there.