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Durham Tees Valley feels the bite

PASSENGER numbers at one of the region’s airports have fallen to their lowest level in 35 years, according to new research.

Figures released by The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that numbers at Durham Tees Valley Airport have fallen for the fourth year in a row.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said there were around 63,000 fewer travelers up to the end of November 2010, compared with 2009 as a whole.

Airport Director Mike Morton cited bad weather as a major cause, the volcanic ash cloud in April and May, in addition to the collapse of Goldtrail and British Midland leaving the airport.

Despite this, Mr Morton was in bullish mood highlighting that having recognised the issues a “new cost structure” had been put in place, which he believed would put the airport in a much better predicament going into 2011 and beyond.

He said: “We are now in a far stronger place this year going forward. It’s not good news but we have recognised the reasons for it.”

“Success at an airport is not just about passenger numbers, like any business it needs to operate at a profit.

“We need to look at a different business model going forward, we need to look at other areas in the aviation business such as the cargo side, the military training side.”

“There are other snippets of business we can now pinpoint that would fit nicely with the new model we have.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .