MME is, as a few folks have already pointed out is a business, and its a business thats becomming increasingly unviable.
The folks at MME need to realise that it can't exist on its current level of business. Its inevitable that it will loose its link to London in the future as BMI is only keeping the link going as a means to safeguarding slots. Flyglobespan have reduced based aircraft to one from winter 07/08 and the smart money is that any expansion from them in Summer 08 will be at NCL with flights across the atlantic. Thomsonfly are pulling out at the end of this Summer.
The facts whether MME folks like it or not is that two more successful airports ie NCL and LBA are too close for comfort and expanding the range of destinations at a rate MME can't match.
Even travel agents in Teeside recommend holidays from NCL.
So yes its a business but the land alone must be worth more to Peel than they can ever hope to make from the place as an airport.