This CNN Business Traveller story - Boutique airports and airlines: Why smaller is better - provides wonderful insights into local airports and airlines in the USA and Europe.

In particular the story of Westchester Airport, only 53 km from the centre of New York, provides an inspiring guide to how secondary airports close to capital cities in Australia (think Wollongong and Essendon) could develop over time.

The story and videos are well worth reading and watching:

Boutique airports and airlines: Why smaller is better