That was the message of Marco van de Kreeke, speaking at Routes Europe last week. The chief executive of Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands said there was an increasing appetite among consumers for point-to-point travel away from the hubs.

He added that some routes could only be served by smaller aircraft which are often spurned by larger mainstream airports as economically unviable. However, he said the airports must still work hard to ensure that the routes could continue.

Kreeke added: “Smaller airports, like all airports, have a difficult time making a profit. What we do is work with our partners and then how the airport is financed is less important.

“Regional governments shouldn’t see airports as somewhere to make money, but somewhere to make connections that bring money to the region.”

Andrew Cornish, chief executive at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said that while passenger numbers remained the key to ensuring a route’s success, monetising every aspect of the journey helped ensure they were economically viable.

Cornish added: “We rely on non-aeronautical spend. You can get a ticket ridiculously cheap, but then pay for parking and food. It’s a great model and a win for everyone.”

He added that persuading a larger airline to pick up the route was another key way of ensuring the new route’s success thanks to the resources they could throw at it.

“If Ryanair or easyJet launch a new route it goes well from day one; they have huge marketing machines,” Cornish said.