Airport News
Durham Tees Valley Airport 'sees passenger numbers plunge'
Thu, 27 Jan, 2011
Durham Tees Valley Airport has experienced a dramatic fall in the number of passengers passing through its gates.
The Sunderland Echo reports that the facility has seen the amount of customers it services fall to its lowest level in the last three decades.
Statistics show that 225,000 passengers made use of Durham Tees Valley Airport from December 2009 to November last year and the publication noted that if this trend continued last month, it would mark a record low in activity.
Robin Tudor, spokesman for the facility's owners Peel Airports, claimed that his organisation is working to try and remedy this situation.
"Commercial decisions taken by airlines often reflect the tough economic times or their individual circumstances," he said. "We have seen it through the years."
These figures provide a stark contrast to those of Sheffield's Robin Hood Airport, which recently reported a significant surge in the number of passengers that it serviced during 2010.
Passenger charges introduced at Durham Tees Valley Airport
Mon, 18 Oct, 2010
Passengers taking flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport will now have to pay a fee to enter the terminal.
A new charge will be implemented on November 15th 2010, which will see adults paying £6 and children aged between three and 15 years old charged £2 to combat the losses it is making.
Craig Richmond, chief executive of owner Peel Airports, explained that the downturn in the travel sector has had a negative impact on Durham Tees Valley Airport and the measure had to be taken to provide a future for the airport.
"I hope that customers - and indeed the whole local community - will recognise that it is something we have to do if the airport is to be able to move forward," Mr Richmond added.
Blackpool International Airport has already put an Airport Development Fee in place for passengers flying from the terminal, with adults being charged £10, although there are no fees in place for passengers aged 15 years old or under.
Durham Tees Valley Airport 'could gain London link'
Tue, 12 May, 2009
Durham Tees Valley Airport could gain a new service to London, it has been reported.
The Northern Echo claims airline Excelsis is planning to provide the flights for a charge "in the region of £220 return".
Spokesperson from the firm Peter Troy told the newspaper: "It is an exciting project for the business community of the north-east. We very much hope everything will be ready for an inaugural flight in early July".
The new airline would apparently plan to undertake six return trips per day to the capital.
If it comes to fruition, the service would replace the one which was provided by Bmi bmi until March this year.
The Northern Echo reports a representative from the hub had "confirmed it was in negotiations with a number of airlines to restart the route".
Those who may drive to the facility if takeoff is approved are advised it is located six miles east of Darlington on the A67.
The AA's website can provide detailed directions to its airport parking options.
Ryanair 'to look at new routes from Durham Tees Valley Airport'
Mon, 16 Mar, 2009
Ryanair will look at new route opportunities from Durham Tees Valley Airport, it has asserted.
This comment came from the company's deputy chief executive and chief operating officer Michael Cawley after it was announced today the airline would end its flights from the airport to Dublin from June this year.
Ryanair had previously revealed it would be cutting back its services to the Irish capital because of a 12 per cent increase in air traffic control charges at Dublin Airport.
Neil Pakey, deputy chief executive officer for Peel Airports, remarked he was disappointed with the decision.
"Today's developments underline the urgent need for governments to understand the huge problems facing the airline industry generally ... and especially services from regional airports," he commented.
Ryanair flights to Alicante and Barcelona from Durham Tees Valley airport are unaffected by today's announcement.
From the end of the month, travel will be available to these destinations on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from the airline company.
Durham Tees Valley is situated in the northeast. Those travelling there by car and want to make use of the airport parking can access it from the A1, A19 and A66.
Politician doubts north-east's capacity for two major airports
Tue, 10 Mar, 2009
The capacity for the north-east region to support two major airports has been questioned by a politician.
Lord Michael Bates, deputy chair of the Conservatives, expressed his doubts to Northern Decisionmakers, the online television programme of the Northern Echo.
Acknowledging rivalry between certain areas, he pointed to the existence of Manchester and Leeds Bradford Airports and said: "I just wonder whether we are large enough as a region to sustain two world-class airports."
Lord Bates also pointed out that the north-east is the smallest region in the country and drew attention to how close by other airports in Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley are.
Meanwhile, PropertyWeek.com reports the launch of a property programme by Manchester Airport.
The initiative, named Manchester City, centres on a business park and the airport's MAG Developments is buying a 30 acre site to combine with the Manchester Business Park, which is owned by the council.
Development boost for Durham Tees Valley
Mon, 01 Dec, 2008
Durham Tees Valley Airport is to expand in the coming months following the approval of a business park and an airport hotel.
According to the Northern Echo, the hotel will comprise 100 rooms, which could be useful for people using airport parking facilities at the hub.
Officials said that the international brand which will own the £8.5 million hotel is to be announced soon.
Joe Docherty, chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, said: "This news is additional evidence as to how well development plans for Durham Tees Valley Airport are progressing."
The development had been briefly halted earlier this year when it was found that a colony of newts had taken up residence in the proposed area for building, but they were successfully moved.
Durham Tees Valley Airport has one terminal and is home to four airlines.
It caters for over a million passengers each year, flying to more than 80 destinations.
Durham Tees Valley Airport expansion underway
Wed, 07 May, 2008
Expansion plans at Durham Tees Valley Airport are up and running as the hub looks to increase annual passenger numbers from 750,000 to three million by 2015.
According to a report in the Evening Gazette, new director at the airport Kerry Quinn is leading the development strategy and is confident about what the gateway can achieve.
"We know what we are up against but our airlines give us access to a range of markets including business, charter and leisure," she told the publication.
"We are looking to increase our volume of domestic schedule services to Heathrow, which gives us access to destinations across the globe."
Other plans to increase the airport's potential include extending the terminal buildings and airport parking facilities. Additionally, £3 million has been set aside for the installation of airfield ground lighting to be placed along the runway.
Recent passenger figures released by the airport showed that the number of passengers using its facilities in March increased by more than 16 per cent year-on-year.
Traffic problems in Durham
Wed, 26 Mar, 2008
Passengers planning to fly from Durham Tees Valley Airport have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys to the facility in the next few weeks.
The recommendation has been made because road works have been scheduled at the Long Newton Interchange on the A66 from March 30th for four weeks.
Diversions will be in place for much of the time, while drivers also need to look out for speed restrictions which the police plan to enforce rigidly.
The disruption will affect people heading to the airport parking facilities from the east, but the work to upgrade the road network is designed to ensure easier access to the site in future.
Meanwhile, the roads around Durham Tees Valley Airport are set to get much busier after its owner Peel Holdings and Tees Valley Regeneration announced details of a £110 million plan to build a new 250-acre business park at the site.
Work on the Skylink International Business Park will begin soon, with a tentative completion date set for summer 2009.