The airport was bought with taxpayers money, and the debt is funded by the taxpayer. It comes out of the Mayor's investment fund, so as Highwideandugly has meantioned on a number of occasions, money spent on the airport is taxpayers money that isn't being spent in other parts of the Tees Valley. Hasn't the Mayor said that if the airport fails i.e. can't repay its debts, it will be closed/sold for housing?