In message , at 21:21:12 on Fri, 4 
Jul 2008, tim.....  remarked:
>OTOH, if it is claimed to be a strategic necessity then ISTM that transfer
>pax are of little benefit to the bulk of GB PLC and should be disregarded
>when assessing the strategic need.

Transfer passengers are of benefit (ignoring the money they spend 
waiting for a plane) because a significant number have transferred from 
a UK domestic destination, and would otherwise have changed planes at 
Schiphol, CDG, or even New York, to get to their eventual destination.

And *all* the transfer passengers whether domestic or from further 
afield help maintain the critical mass of flights especially direct ones 
to slightly less popular destinations. I can remember when it was only 
possible to fly direct to Seattle three times a week, for example, even 
from Heathrow.
-- 
Roland Perry