Hipennine,
Many thanks for some interesting analysis - but when I was referring to size, I did mean population, not area
Sheep don't fly, except when they are dead!
I was generally referring to leisure routes - I accept that NCL is much closer to the biz pop, not to mention the fact it is attached to the Metro for pax from a little further afield. Maybe the Solent region is a fairer comparison - with BOH essentially being the leisure apt - although disposable incomes there are obviously higher. Despite this, everyone needs a holiday and this market is driven by price first, then convenience. Why have FR failed so badly? MME ought to be their natural kind of airport. LS have set up at practically every other airport north of BHX - including BLK, so why not MME?
I can only suspect that mgmt are still attached to some mythological value of their product - but even this doesn't add up as Peel have enjoyed great success with locos @LPL.