Change of ownership structure affecting diversions?
Fifty years ago the airport was solely owned by Manchester Corporation. In the 1970s the ownership was transferred to the GMC so that that body and its constituent councils' ratepayers benefitted, as had the city's, from profits at the airport. Diversions, sometimes in vast numbers, were commonplace and the MEN, then a proper newspaper, was only to pleased to trumpet the benefits of diversions to the populace.
Had today's blanket ban been in place then both the paper and councillors, in open committee and full council meetings, would have been making some very strong representations to lay at the airport CEO's door.
After Thatcher got rid of the GMC, the management changed and a substantial amount of external funding has, over the years, changed the makeup of the company. Now, as a plc, it is responsible to the shareholders and whilst the councils are still shareholders, the direct connection to the ratepayers has gone, and the public nature of the deliberations no longer exists. Management now operates as any other plc and the whole ethos has changed. The money men are in control where previously aviation people ran the show.
The bottom line dictates as little overtime as possible should be paid for, ground handlers bid for contracts on minimum prices meaning their overtime and staffing levels are cut to the bone and the commercial success of the airport, without any major increase in stands, has led to a situation where a controlled handling of diversions is necessary, but not a blanket ban, which almost looks as if management are taking the easiest route to the bottom line knowing the shareholders have little interest other than in maintaining their dividend.