The deals with the LoCos are a belated reactive acceptance of the facts of life. Manchester did not want the likes of Ryanair etc. and only became a LoCo airport after a volte face when it was not only losing market share to Liverpool, Leeds and even Blackpool, but due to economic factors and 9/11 was losing long haul as well.
There is no obsession with long haul direct services. Any business that is going to survive and expand must constantly be on the lookout for new opportunities to serve its market. In terms of its catchment area and the businesses it serves, long haul services must be the growth area for Manchester and aggressive marketing both ways, to the airlines who can provide the services and the businesses which will provide the passengers and freight should be the most important area of marketing. It should also be aggressive in its defence of its existing business. The links that have been lost over the last decade and a half would, in terms of both business and prestige, have been a series of major set backs to most businesses.
Unfortunately MAG seems to have lost its focus with regard to Manchester, becoming more interested in everything from Stansted to building a business park and everything in between. From a shareholder's and accountants's point of view this makes great sense. From the point of view of the potential passenger, it makes much less.
In effect the LoCo phenomenon and the complete change of heart, under duress, has been a life saver for Manchester as, if the LoCos went tomorrow, what would be left?
The seemingly constant focus on China and Hong Kong makes a great deal of sense but seems to dominate to the exclusion of other markets and has not yet provide one bookable seat.
The days when Manchester Airport was an entity to serve Manchester and its hinterland first and foremost are long gone. I'm not convinced that today's mega operation offers any advance in route development terms on what pertained under Gordon Sweetapple who had a very limited marketing budget and massive constraints imposed by government.