I think trying to get £25 million from the local council would have had the rate payers up in arms at a time when very large cuts in UK public spending are coming our way, it will have no effect (no runway length increase) on the only area that BHX has seen growth = Ryanair
I would not be surprised if BHX revenue from airlines has fallen this past year with a number going bust or reducing based aircraft and Ryanairs start up sweetheart deal.
A big increase came from our Eastern European guests, but anyone knows they spend nothing on board the aircraft and even less in the terminal, the massive increase in medium and longhaul flight APD will deter many from flying long haul from the UK, its now far cheaper to fly from AMS/CDG and will be come more so as the APD is due to rise further and the pound should start to pull back against the Euro.