I think it is easy to blame bad management without knowing what pressures are being placed on the managers from ALL directions. I am no apologist for the state of DVT but it has always ,and this is before the dreaded Peel Holdings took over ,been marketed as your small friendly local airport. It is small and it is local to many of us but friendly it is not. I have never seen so many grim faces through security and the staff airside.
Newcastle and Manchester have never been marketed as parochial airports and this is perhaps why they are streets ahead.
Just a thought.
P.S. Any staff who read this for god's sake smile and make flying an enjoyable and exciting experience again.