Startingout,
The problems with BK have nothing to do with the runway length and strength.
SACL would love the regionals to move to BK, however, the BK surrounding residents would oppose such a move with all their might on noise, safety and other environment grounds.
BK would require a substantial facilities upgrade and the airport owners would be reluctant to make any such investment for a speculative single new start-up operator due to the possibility of business failure.
Regional 'slots' are Government protected in SYD in order to ensure regional and rural passengers are not disadvantaged and the regionals have successfully seen off all challenges to their access on this basis.
Every regional flight carries passengers connecting with other domestic and international carriers. Without a costly super frequent and very high speed ground transport connection between BK and SY, to ensure seamless flight connections, BK is a 'dead duck'.
Of course a 'brave' operator could offer both intrastate and interstate connections from BK, but the operator would need the mix aircraft to provide such services and any such attempt would be fought commercially by all existing operators. Eventually some passengers would be re-educated but probably not before the airline ran out of funds.
The Oracle
Last edited by THE ORACLE; 13th Dec 2010 at 23:45.