http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=581132

The Cumberland News can today give the first glimpse of the 21st-century welcome passengers would get at the airfield – if planning permission can be secured within the next few weeks. As well as the glass-fronted passenger terminal, the 500,000 sq ft building would also house the airport tower, hangers, warehouses, the headquarters of WA Developments International and haulage giant Eddie Stobart.

That means the creation of the new building and a runway which would attract airlines to operate twice-daily flights to London as well as the possibility of other destinations such as Dublin and Amsterdam.

Airport manager Richard Gordon again denied claims that the expansion would lead to massive planes – such as the Boeing 737 jets used by Ryanair and easyJet – because the new runway, at 1,771 metres, would not be big enough.

Passenger flights – of which there could be five in and five out daily – would be operated by 29 or 30-seater Jetstream 41 turboprop or similar-type aircraft.

Airlines are already interested in becoming involved with the airport, but Mr Gordon stressed they would be bound by the conditions of any planning approval – meaning they can only do what is being applied for.

Given that a decision is needed by 1 Feb at the latest, and not only have no decision been made, but no date has even been set for the meeting, it does not look promising.

If the runway isn't extended, airlines like Flybe and Aer Arran could be very happy as in a similar vein to Aer Arran into Irish regionals like Sligo, Waterford and Donegal, where the fares are at a reasonable level because the airports can only cater for smaller aircraft, therefore keeping out 1p fares like on Ryanair.

Quoting BestWestern (Thread starter): Airport manager Richard Gordon again denied claims that the expansion would lead to massive planes – such as the Boeing 737 jets used by Ryanair and easyJet – because the new runway, at 1,771 metres, would not be big enough.

if your going to go to all the trouble of building a new runway, why not make it a bit longer so you can attract the likes of ryanair and holiday charters? Stobart want to set up an air charter business.....they will struggle with a runway that short.

A good oppertunity sacrificed just to please the NIMBYs. The same NIMBYs who will no doubt complain in 3-5 years time at how they need to drive to NCL to go on holiday rather than using their local airport....  

The 1,171m runway of CAX was used shortly after the Lockerbie disaster for a couple of Pan Am B727-200s IIRC. I believe they were used to fly relatives of the PA103 passengers to Lockerbie. Are there any photos around of those aircraft at CAX? I would be interested to see them, although it is a shame that they were there under such tragic circumstances.

What kind of local demand could really be generated by an airport at Carlisle? Carlisle itself is a relatively small city and the surrounding area is very rural. Anyone living North or West of Gretna may prefer the greater choice offered at Prestwick and similarly anyone based more than 15 miles to the East would prefer the greater choice offered at NCL. Carlisle airport could only really serve Cumbria, and then not the Southern part as any extra road mileage down the M6 to Blackpool, LPL and MAN is warranted by the extra choices available there.
Whilst I have no doubt jetstream services daily to DUB and say AMS and twice daily to London could work for an airline, would that really be enough pax for the airport to earn a satisfactory return on it's investment? Also, which London airport? I guess it would have to be LCY or LTN as LHR does not have the peak time slots and LGW maybe too far South to tempt business travellers away from the train. Any thoughts?

From what I can see - this is a land play - the owner is basically saying - let me develop the airport land, for commercial use, and you get an airport.