The Teesside public voted him in and he's doing what he said he'd do. If you don't like it vote him out! Next election is coming up.
The subsidies are no different to any airport that subsidies a new route. It happens, it's the industry. Its clear Peel weren't interested so the mayor came in with the promise of making a go of it.
The worry is that the Labour candidate believes this is strange in the industry.... leading to me thinking she can't be trusted or that she doesn't have an understanding of business.
Support the routes and the subsidies wont be needed. If they over achieve it could be that larger aircraft are used and economies of scale are reached thus reducing ticket price further. If it works the whole project could give confidence to other airlines or existing to open new routes and hopefully lead to removal of the passenger departure fee.
Those that keep harping on about alternatives from other airports are clearly from those areas and have an agenda.
Remember this is what the Teesside public wanted.