I understand grarap's point. T2 just isn't set up to process widebody-quantity pax so when they come in (eg PK) there is always a real pain in processing such a large number of people in a short time.

But the main issue is the pull-out of long haul carriers. I'm not bothered personally as I always go to Far East and there were never direct flights so I always have to connect. However, if you go onto the BA forum there has been a lively discussion re, for example, BA pulling out of the MAN-JFK route. It seems that there was just insufficient premium traffic to justify it. That is BA's explanation, nothing to do with the airport's infrastructure.

You can understand this when looking at some of the dynamics of Manchester v London for example. F class demand might have a loose correlation to demand for 5* hotels and high class restaurants. Manchester has one 5* hotel and NO michelin starred restaurants. Plenty of folk have tried to make a go of high-end restaurants in Manchester and have failed (Juniper in Altrincham being the obvious exception). There aren't enough corporate headquarters to generate the J class demand. Manchester doesn't have critical mass so we had better get used to it being a LCC/charter/transfer-to-hub airport.

nickyboy