David,
Fundamentally it comes down to a different way of thinking about the role of airports in the wider UK economy. We have moved from a centrally controlled environment where air services to/from particular airports were limited by bilateral agreements between countries, a system which generally favoured national flag carriers, to a more or less free for all. Some of this is EU driven, but not all.
This has not been altogether beneficial, despite the apparent increase in 'consumer choice'. As I said- Complementary, not Competing, is the way to avoid duplication and fragmentation of mass at regional hubs. I take the point about efficiency. There are mechanisms which the UK Government can apply through the CAA Economic Regulation Group. Caps on airport charges are applied at the London airports and have only just been removed from Manchester after 15 years, now that it is recognised that MAN has serious competition in the North. MAN has also lost many of its legacy and long-haul services, largely as a result of relaxed access to anywhere (including LHR). Such losses are to the detriment of the northern economy
Last edited by roverman; 23rd Mar 2009 at 17:17.