What a contrast between the wide ranging big picture painted by Shed and the blinkered spread-sheet approach of others....I know which I prefer.
Blending these two approaches is what makes a great company where lots of the touchy-feely things that it is difficult or impossible to put a monetary value on are integrated into the business ethos because they are perceived as bringing added value.
And who is travelling on a lot of these flights and routes we've been talking about? Answer in the main -Joe Public. So for example an article about a new destination in the MEN (sorry Bagso!) or other local press or on-line media may trigger people to go and look at that destination in more detail and this may result in a booking. The article may be as a result of taking the journo there, or a paid for advertorial - and this could be jointly funded between the airport and airline. Some of the route development pitches to airlines must surely cover this joint approach. As Shed has said, another 10 bums on seats as a result could mean the difference between a route's success or failure, but these things are difficult to quantify.
But for sure Airport "
PR" is an important piece of the package of things which should be done to get the message out to the people making the booking decisions.