LBIA has come a long way very quickly. For the size of the west yorks conurbation the place languishes miles behind where it should be. The north western conurbation is roughly bigger than the Yorkshire conurbation having a ratio of 3:2. but is the MAN passenger throughput 3:2 on LBIA ?- absolutely nowhere near. Of course I am massively over simplifying issues to show LBIAs potential. Should the ratio between the two airports passenger throughput be in todays order of 7:1? Of course not.
That's why passenger number went up quickly - the airport filled up its existing capacity but no long term infrastructure plans have begun. The sole reason that the airport was sold is so that a company could come in and physically grow the airport infrastructure to allow the passengers to flow. It hasn't happened and hence the passenger numbers are being artificially altered by strategy (just as MANs passenger figures were altered by strategy when loco airlines were not welcome).
Yes the place is creaking and passenger numbers reducing. It is well beyond time for action......(rail link or no rail link)