One airport not enough for SCC kingpin Sir Peter Rigby

Drop in traffic

Part of the drop in traffic is down to the economic downturn; no question of that. But I suspect that part of it was also down to the trimming of routes and timetables.

For example, we used to be able to get a flight to a couple of airports in Germany but these are no longer available; have to travel up to Birmingham instead.

Added to that, there used to be an early morning flight to Paris CDG with a late return, which was great for a day trip for a business meeting. Now, there's just the one flight a day; we have to stay overnight (cheap hotel rooms are still c €100, evening meal c. €40 - sometimes more than the cost of the flights!) and you don't really get any extra time; so the amount of trips had to be cut back.

Have to say that CDG is not the best airport in the world (although flying from terminal 2 is infinitely better than the previous arrangements) but I really liked Exeter; got to know the staff there quite well and they could be a bit more relaxed than some of the po-faced staff elsewhere (dealing with larger numbers of travelling public will probably do that to you.)

I hope that they do invest a bit more there; really like it.

Private company invests in UK infrastructure.

And not to suck on a government grant teat.

Curiouser and curiouser.

but cautious thumbs up.