Harry, as the economy grows, and we try to pay our debts off, we encourage more trade, which drives more travel. In a competition for new business in terms of emerging markets, we lose out against our competitors if they can't fly direct.
I know you enjoy knocking BA, but doing so just helps Air France, KLM and Lufthansa even more. I would prefer to have inward investment come to the UK bringing jobs and capital with it. If you don't think the rest of our competitors are fighting dirty and laying out the red carpet for their money, you're being naive.
None of the players capable of delivering this are interested in using Gatwick save Air China who maintain a summer shuttle for students. Korean were the latest to give it a go and that didn't last.
As for transit passengers contributing "nothing", that beggars belief.
How many routes are not viable without feed?
How many routes would see frequency collapse without feed?
How much more would we pay with capacity costraints that come with the points above?
How many pilots would BA need to pay off?
Suppliers? White van drivers? WHSmith workers even?
From AB1s to DEs, it would affect a lot of jobs. I imagine you consider we have too many jobs and can afford to relax??!
May I suggest you re-consider?