Surerely the bucket and spade routes can't be the only viable ones from NCL
They certain aren't, they are however significant in the contribution to overall pax volume. Many of historic scheduled routes to main hubs do very well. It is to a great extent that the performance on these routes reflects the local ecconomic conditions. If these routes attract only minimal traffic from outside the region, then it will be extremely interesting to note upon it's first anniversary the effect that EK has had on the 'traditional equilbrium' of BA,KLM & AF in particular.
As NCL compares well in terms of facilities against many of it's competitors who it would apppear are faring significantly better in terms of current - projected growth, then the obvious conclusion has to be that at NCL any decline in traffic has no bearing on the airport facilities but simply that supply has exceeded demand on many of the current offerings (which are also more sensitive to seasonal conditions), resulting in inferior returns being obtained compared with those that are anticipated elsewhere.