Troubled airport XXX needs to diversify more
As many are aware, the UK is possibly (or even probably) over served with passenger airports. As most airports try to operate as commercial companies, we end up with quite a few airports that are, at best, 'struggling'. The constant refrain is that airport XXX needs to diversify more.
Newquay needs to diversify. Perhaps Exeter as well. And Bournemouth. Gloucester already is diversified. Kemble has gone into scrapping. Cardiff has a big maintenance base. Oxford does private flying and training. Manston does cargo but needs to diversify more. Maybe also Cambridge needs to diversify a bit more. Norwich does some offshore energy. East Midlands does cargo in a big way. Blackpool needs to diversify. So does Doncaster. Humberside has diversified into offshore energy and private flying. Tesside does its bit like caravan storage but needs to diversify a lot more. And Prestwick. Mustn't forget Dundee either. Perhaps also Derry ?
Then of course there are all the passenger airports in the UK that are doing OK but fancy a bit more revenue from other diversified sources like cargo, police/ambulance, private facilities or FBOs etc etc. Yes that means large established airports pinching customers from airports which are desperately trying to diversify to survive
The point is that there is only so much aviation activity the UK needs or can profitably support. Diversification is an easy word to say but it's a lot harder to magic up those profitable activities which don't involve aircraft carrying passengers