Terry Harper wrote:
"David E. Belcher" wrote...

To build on the last-mentioned point, surely a lot of air travellers
from Essex & East Anglia would be better off going from Stansted
rather than Gatwick?

Passengers would be better off with a choice of airports. Since those
people who live near airports have a higher propensity to fly, improving
access to other airports is worthwhile. The alternative is to increase
the range of destinations served from the local airport, but that would
require more runways, which I strongly oppose.

Provided they can get a flight to their destination of choice, yes.
Likewise, those from Sussex and Kent would prefer to fly from Gatwick,
although Southampton can be an alternative. Heathrow is undesirable, and
Luton and Stansted are last resorts.

From Sussex maybe, but from Kent Heathrow is still a good option (though
not as good as Gatwick), and Southampton isn't. There is Manston, but
AFAIK it doesn't have many flights yet.