Rapidman, Love the technicality in your post
You stated Liverpool was 5th behind London, Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh for holiday visits, but your arch rival down the road was 3rd over all, and the most important category of all, business. I know you hate MAN, given past posts so not surprising you left that bit out. LPL may have more tourists, but they are usually low yeilding, whereas business tends to be higher. sorry about that
As for long haul from LPL, if your reference is to RYR starting long haul, im going to have to give a big no thank you. LPL-New york will end up being New York Stewart, which, by the time you save money on the no meal, no entertainment low cost flight, you soon end up spending on ground transport to where you actually want to go.
Other than that, LPL long haul has been tried before, and failed miserably.
Sorry but just my 2 cents