"I just dont believe either BOH or HUY should be propped up by what is in effect owned by the Greater Manchester tax payers"
That's a laugh!
As soon as Manchester bought the place they took control of the very profitable industrial estate and prevented the airport from investing the profit from it.Presumably the shareholders / taxpayers had no objection to that? Also, to what extent is Manchester funding the airport now? I understand that money for the terminal etc had to be 'borrowed' by Bournemouth and needs to be repaid (with interest of course). Hardly a situation where the taxpayers lose out - though, admittedly, it might be tempting for MAG to sell up and try and get their cash back quickly if they need to get their hands on STN or similar.