ematom1
The East Midlands (as a region) doesn't need more leisure air services, it needs proper scheduled services that link the region into the networks of the major international carriers and global alliances.
Ryanair may carry twice the number of passengers as BA does (according to Michael O'leary on BBC Breakfast this morning) but he does nothing, zip, zilch, nada to assist East Midlands exporters get to their worldwide markets from their local airport. Thankfully FlyBe does, and hopefully bmi Regional will, if they can forge deals with Star Alliance.
I can only cite the instance of Mrs ATNotts who needs to go to Hamburg at the end of this month. Inconvenient connections from EMA cost £ 400.00 plus return, more useful connections from BHX (not even the direct BHX/HAM service), just over half that. I rest my case.