Have to say "underwhelming" is being very kind to this elaborate Government diversion off the real topic.
They have shafted the UK aviation, tourism and hospitality industries, particularly in the regions, for the past 20 years with a punishing air tax which makes the industry completely uncompetitive in European terms, and when they come under increasing pressure to do the right thing and follow the lead of other European countries by removing the tax, they throw out a feeble gesture to be seen to be paying some attention to the problem, rather than having the basic substance to fix it.
As has been said, half of these applications have no chance, with APD to be applied on both legs of the journey in the UK, while frankly for the other half, the joint external beneficiaries like AMS, PAR, DUB, FRA, MUC are all more than big enough to support these minor developments in their own right without taking a UK taxpayers' handout. But I guess that's why these places are thriving at the UK's expense.
Still tis the season - there's a vote afoot, and baseless spin is in the ascendency.