In the threads discussing whether North Wales/Chester should get additional Manchester Airport services there's been a lot of discussion about which destinations should have a direct Manchester Airport link and whether cities which have direct links should in fact have better links to more local Airports.
Personally I think there's different ways of viewing this:
1. From a business prospective from the Airport's point of view
Using the rail links to get business that might otherwise use other airports and prioritising those links over more local ones. If these were to be the priority then I think the Airport should be subsiding services. Although, I think if the Airport were to neglect local links they would breach the requirements which they accepted in building the second runway.
2. From a business prospective from the Railway's point of view
Providing direct rail links on the most lucrative rail flows to the Airport. However, which are they? It could be Liverpool-Airport via Warrington would be the most lucrative route even though there currently isn't such a service.
3. From an environmental prospective.
The top 10 busiest routes out of Manchester includes Edinburgh and Glasgow. Providing more regular and faster links to Edinburgh and Glasgow may mean less internal flights and more journeys on electric trains. Good for the environment - not so good for the Airport's business plan.
Personally I think there's different ways of viewing this:
1. From a business prospective from the Airport's point of view
Using the rail links to get business that might otherwise use other airports and prioritising those links over more local ones. If these were to be the priority then I think the Airport should be subsiding services. Although, I think if the Airport were to neglect local links they would breach the requirements which they accepted in building the second runway.
2. From a business prospective from the Railway's point of view
Providing direct rail links on the most lucrative rail flows to the Airport. However, which are they? It could be Liverpool-Airport via Warrington would be the most lucrative route even though there currently isn't such a service.
3. From an environmental prospective.
The top 10 busiest routes out of Manchester includes Edinburgh and Glasgow. Providing more regular and faster links to Edinburgh and Glasgow may mean less internal flights and more journeys on electric trains. Good for the environment - not so good for the Airport's business plan.