MUFC
Yes, you are absolutely right. You get what you pay for. Which in the case of Ringway over the years, has been the square root of nowt. A lovely shop is great, but some of the most confusing taxiway layouts and dangerous aircraft maneuvering areas and shambolic stand facilities DO NOT engender any faith in the running of the airport. And don't even get me started on economic imports and exports! An airport is a gateway - simple. The aircraft arrives and picks up. Goes elsewhere and then arrives back and disgorges. That is the simple economics. It matters not where the pax come from or where they go to, it does to an extent matter how much they spend in the retail outlets. Schedule services are not money makers. they are break evens at best. They just happen to give a supposed cache to the airport. MAN is one of worst airports within the UK at recognising its existing customer base and working with it to improve. And I say that from a knowledegable viewpoint, not as a pruner.