According to the late North West News on the BBC, there has been some very strong reaction but I'm not sure if the airport has participated. Diplomacy is all very well but I trust MAN won't let this go without making their views known in no uncertain terms, publicly or privately to Grayling. Both the electrification and extra Piccadilly platforms projects are highly relevant to MAN's continued development.
Apart from the principles involved, I can't decide whether he's inept at the politics of it given the timing of the two announcements, or he just couldn't care less what the reaction is.