A little reality check is needed
The latest ruse with APD or route support grants isn't going to make any difference in the long run. It's been said elsewhere on this forum and it's blindingly obvious: there are simply too many airports in the country, outside the South-East, at any rate. Where did we get this idea that to be more than a hour's surface journey from an airport with flights to everywhere (or anywhere) is unacceptable? Many people travel this sort of distance and more to and from work every day. I know people working at MAN who commute daily from Merseyside, Lancashire, Staffordshire, North Wales and West Yorkshire. If they can travel to work here they can travel to fly from here. For those without the long commute, to make the journey two or three times a year, what's the big issue?
By consolidating flights at the larger regional airports we'll get more massing of traffic and the best chance of more direct services from main well surface connected regionals, e.g. MAN, BHX, NCL, The village green airports can fill the niche market gaps, GA, and aviation-support industries.