Some really interesting info has popped up on this thread since I last looked!
I'm not an economist (and I know that airline economics is even more complicated than the normal kind
) but the numbers of passengers using the Gatwick and Stansted flights in 2007 make me wonder. Surely someone these days could make money on these routes?
Also, interesting to hear that Newcastle and Prestwick are the only airports in the North-ish end of the UK that are cleared for the B748. Surprised that, at least on this one small point, we've stolen a march on Edinburgh.