Are UK Regional Airports Ringing Any Alarm Bells?

[dieseljak]

Newcastle Airport is the fastest growing of the 10 largest regional airports in the UK (21%) followed closely by Bristol (19%).
If I were about to take control of British Airways I would be looking at how much of that growth will continue to come BA's way.
Historically speaking, regional travellers may well feel exploited by BA's past practices, so expectation of a loyalty to the "national flag carrier" may well be misplaced, and the relationship between BA and BAA seen as conspiratorial in the supression of regional aspirations.
Have the low cost operators opened Pandora's Box?
SE airports always face major opposition with their expansion plans.
Regional travellers baulk at the extra time, money and discomfort coupled with travelling through a SE hub inevitably offers.
They have discovered and compared the other airports used by other operators.
They suspect it won't be long before medium/long haul destinationations will be available with the introduction of a new breed of aircraft.
But then again they may well expand Heathrow Gatwick and Stansted. Why change the habit of a lifetime?

[sn26567]

Bristol and Newcastle both have already a nice selection of international flights, enbling the cost-conscious traveller to select alternatives to BA.

These travellers can also avoid transiting through the difficult Heathrow hub in favour of AMS or BRU.

[BHX_BRU]

Birmingham hasn't had a connection to either London Heathrow or London Gatwick for some years. AMS, BRU and CDG are the natural hubs - and all are easier and quicker than either Haethrow or Gatwick.

[Advisor]

Comet, your opinion wanted please