2011 will be about economics.
In the UK we have had the VAT increase; direct taxes increase in April, together with road fuel, and lots of public sector workers will lose their jobs. This will have an effect on people's disposable income, and is likely to prevent much in the way of route expansion.
Ireland is bust, and austerity measures will hit home this year. There will be an election, which will result in political uncertainty. PSO routes will largely disappear.
Portugal and Spain are locked-in to the euro, and because of that will also suffer this year; worse in Spain because they have lots of marginally insolvent local banks. Industrial action by the unemployed may put visitors off, especially if demonstrations get violent.
Germany is doing well, and its population will travel to the sun with their towels in greater numbers.
Belgium is facing economic and political problems, and may even break up.
Greece, like Ireland, is bust and already facing austerity, meaning lower pay and higher unemployment.
Prognosis for aviation: unless German, go away and hide. 2012 looks better.
Hope for the year: split of the euro into a teutonic 'deutsche-euro'
and a tatty 'lire-escudo-punt-peseta-drachma-euro'.
