The way the Mayor was talking the Heathrow route was an 'opportunity' that arose so they took advantage of it - some great footage on Look North of a BMA Viscount when the Heathrow service first commenced in 1969.
Also some interesting analysis on Anna.Aero of the Teesside to Amsterdam market - best load factor in a few years last year at 75%, and some information on where the transfer traffic goes, with Alicante as the biggest transfer destination with Heathrow second!