As someone who is currently studying economics, I am sure, cwl747, that you will see the innate common sense in the writings of xtypeman and Stall-Warner. The airport is there to make money. That is what it does, based on S-W's figures, it does it well. Get off JH's case!!
The catchment area argument is a bit of a red herring as well, however. It all depends on the route offered. If you consider, say, Edinburgh, then the catchment area is relatively small, since you can get there from BHX, BRS etc etc. But for a route that ISN'T available elsewhere (eg YYZ, YVR), the catchment area expands outwards rapidly.
Does the airport have a wishlist complex? Yes, like all airports I have ever come across!!!
TA