I would love too but if i did the money grabbers at another strip would try and pinch them
Do you honestly, I mean honestly, believe that's how it works?
They don't read here, but airport pricing policy has played a *major* part in the movement of capacity between LPL and MAN. Post K O'T arrival at MAN, there has been a real push for volume and a very deliberate policy of getting after the LPL (and LBA) catchment areas. The Gtr Mcr catchment area alone doesn't justify the capital outlay on 2 runways & 3 terminals so Merseyside and Yorkshire are integral to getting the volume in through the doors. They are also more likely to buy car parking and pre-departure hotel nights, than the local Gtr Mcr punters, which makes them a valuable source of revenue.
I'm not sure why the matter can't be debated in a grown up way, without people peddling their own inferiority or superiority complexes.
EDIT - to reinforce to point. 2012 passenger data
MAN/LPL, combined - just 55,000 passenger growth vs 2011; 0.2% growth
Rest of UK - 0.6% growth
London Airports - 1.0% growth