[thorn bird]

Except for the major cities, where lack of proper city planning for growth, makes building city motorways rather expensive, because a lot of land needs to be resumed, buildings knocked down, tunnels built etc. Enter the development road sharks who make billions out of motorway charges, which no doubt a fair percentage gets squirrelled away in offshore tax havens.

The Airport development sharks operate in much the same manner except they must price aviation off the land, before they can knock down aviation buildings or bulldoze runways and taxiways, they are relieved of the cost of resumption so their profits are massive.

Highways are considered vital Infrastructure, do we pay a Toll for driving on them? They are funded because they are considered vital for the security and wellbeing of the nation.

Airports apparently are not considered Vital, nor necessary for the wellbeing of the nation.

Councils are tasked with maintaining regional roads, there are no toll booths set up as you pass from shire, because if there was I doubt the councillors would be elected if they did.

Airports are no less vital for the security and wellbeing of the nation, just as a vibrant viable general aviation industry is vital for the security and wellbeing of the nation. Perhaps a phone call to the president of Ukraine might educate those who decide such matters just how vital.