Originally Posted by WHBM
Alas I can remember the Dan-Air DC3s used on Bristol - Cardiff - Liverpool/Manchester - Teesside - Newcastle that were an even earlier incarnation of this.
For business travellers the difficulty with such a route is low frequency. Two flights a day ends up cutting out a lot of potential who just can't fit into the schedule. There are the "going for a meeting" people, where 10.30 to 15.30 is wanted, maybe even that's a bit long, and there's the "doing a chargeable day" people, where 09.00 to 17.30 is required at the office being visited. The train generally is able to offer both options, but car is completely flexible.
And with just one homeward flight you can't have flexibility in your day. If the meeting runs on you can be stuffed. Even though you may never have actually transferred to the last departure of the day, it's nice to know it's there. Your car will always wait for you.
Dont forget the Airspeed Ambassadors (Elizabethans) also used on this and other DA and B. K. S. routes.
Dont think the Man - Ncl would work unless it was high frequency and very low cost. Wont happen!.