So it seems the rumour started with the purchase by Peel of Barton which was mistaken for Manchester. I doubt they could ever afford Manchester anyway as it would cost a hundred x's more than Liverpool or Finningley. Manchester's own expression of interest into Finningley said F would grow to 6million pax and not affect Manchester-they only dropped the idea to focus on R2.
682 - The strongest supporter of Finningley was Ryanair ,and in any case easyjet went on record saying it was the only Yorkshire opportunity, so EMA's growth may concern any airport but its only the delay that will concern Peel. All the charter operators said at the inquiry that Finningley is a different catchment area - there will be some overlap but its marginal.
frb - Peel bought 50% of SZD in August 2001 - the existing owners said without Peel's investment they would have closed SZD by XMas 2001 as only BRAL jetstream to BFS and Aer Arann Dublin was left. AA left after 9.11 and BRAL said they had no long term future - i don't think you can blame Peel for SZD's limited runway length which restricts 95% of the world's commercial aircraft fleet. Once the old SZD management lost KLM and SN there was no way back - once bitten twice shy for those airlines. Peel ought to get the 1 engine restriction lifted and get more focussed on GA and the heliport.