BMI vs the free market, round two

Radical anti-capitalists BMI are at it again - this time threatening to axe flights between Durham Tees Valley airport and Heathrow if BAA raises the price of landing slots at the London airport.

They've got MPs in such a tizz, that 14 have signed up to an Early Day Motion, asking the DfT to mark the flight as a 'public service', keeping landing costs lower than the market rate.

Of course, going by train is always an option - and in this case, often a cheaper one. Despite the fare rises we've heard so much about, it's possible to get a ticket tomorrow from Durham to London for £35.50 each way, or £71 in total. A saver return - which can be used to return any time within a one month period - is £99.30; more costly, but flexible.

Flying tomorrow with BMI will set you back £266 return, with no flexibility - 267% of the cost of going by train. Sure, you'll save an hour or so - the train is 2 and a half hours, the plane 1 hour 15 (although you need to add check-in time and time to get into central London on to that), but that's still quite a mark-up.

Booking two months ahead brings BMI down to £32 each way: much more reasonable. Except that the train is just £12.90 each way. Perhaps our flight-happy friends in Westminster should be lobbying for more advertising from the rail operators, rather than begging the DfT to prop up yet another costly and unnecessary short-haul flight.