Manchester Airport route network expansion becomes an interesting model for the industry. Part 2

In Part 1 of this report on Manchester Airports Group, we reviewed the ingredients in its network planning - LCCs, Gulf airlines and China - and the likely role of the Airport City.

As we begin Part 2, one of the biggest difficulties that MAN has faced in plugging its service gaps is the lack of a 'home-based' carrier. Even Leeds-Bradford Airport (3 million ppa) can claim that (Jet2.com), while British Midland was firmly established as Britain's second airline at the MAG-owned East Midlands Airport until it began to break up, the main airline being acquired by British Airways. It may seem a little peculiar that such an important city-region has no air carrier of its own (a 'British Northern Airlines' if you like). A Manchester-based business newspaper began a campaign several years ago to garner support for such an airline start-up but the campaign faltered when the newspaper closed down at the height of the recession.