NWSRG, totally agree with your points, especially -
Is it really necessary? What will NI plc gain by having this extension? Competition maybe...but we have that already (witness EI and EZY chasing the same passengers on certain routes, then pulling off those same routes!). And it will only be mid-haul routes...BHD can cope with UK routes as is!
And destinations in competition with each other. If you fancy a city break, but not that fussed on where, you'll tend to go with the destination that offers a good value fare. So EZY services to Paris, may be in competition with EZY to Barcelona, and to Krakow, and to London etc. Only a certain number of NI holidaymakers, and spread too thinly over destinations and airlines and the routes, destinations will get pulled.
Most mid-haul routes from NI cannot suppoort more than one operator (see 2 above). So if FR get their extension, we may see price wars that ultimately drive one operator off any given route...probably with FR surviving...and then what happens? We pay for check-in etc...competition doesn't really benefit.
The fear!!!!
Certainly BHD is a very important componant in the Northern Ireland infrastructure, however I do feel thats its core business and growth should be focused to more business orientated routes and maintaining domestic UK services. Business cities in near Europe also, Brussels, maybe in Germany also.
On another note, was on jet2.com Saturday morning flight to Leeds from BFS. Initially flight time was 35 minutes. Due to strong winds, aborted landing at LBA, circled for roughly 30 minutes and then divrted to Doncaster. Total flight time of 90 minutes. Never been so glad to get off a plane in my life. Many green faces!!