Missing the point, maybe?
Anyone who has been through Blackpool since the terminal refurbishment finished (i.e late February 06 onwards) would struggle to see it as a 'shack' The departure lounge seats 800, there are 14 brand new checkins, a new baggage handling system, new shops and restaurants. Further facilities are under construction for launch in the summer. True there is no McDonalds or Starbucks because the pax numbers dont justify coughing up a hundred grand to buy a franchise. The whole point is - people come to an airport to catch a plane - they get here, park by the door, check in, buy a beer and a paper and maybe some smellies and go away on holiday. Large airports are just shopping malls with a runway attached. BLK and the like are about catching planes! It's clean, well run and, on the whole, efficient. Sure there are growing pains but they will ease.