Ringway was municipally owned for many years was it not? Ratepayers are taxpayers too.
But keep in mind that MAN has a long history of paying dividends to its council owners which in turn subsidise the rates.
Correct, Turkey is in the Middle East.
Europe is a continent, the Middle East is a region. Approximately 3% of Turkey is in Europe, 97% in Asia. Istanbul straddles both continents across the Bosphorus, but the main airport - Istanbul Ataturk - is located on the European side of the city.