Sky’s the limit but there could be turbulence ahead
Selected quotes from a feature in the Evening Gazette
New director Kerry Quinn is spearheading expansion plans that are geared to boosting annual passenger numbers from 750,000 to three million by 2015. She said: “We know what we are up against but our airlines give us access to a range of markets including business, charter and leisure. We are looking to increase our volume of domestic schedule services to Heathrow, which gives us access to destinations across the globe.”
Kerry is adamant the airport is not in direct competition with its counterpart 35 miles up the A1. “We firmly believe that there’s enough room in the North-east for two airports,” she said defiantly. “We’re not in competition with Newcastle, even though our catchment areas overlap. “There’s a feeling sometimes that two similar developments in the same area will take business off each other but I believe that growth breeds growth. We have to realise that developments can complement each other and create extra opportunities.”
Parcel carrier TNT has realised the potential of the airport and is opening a new on-site depot to be up and running by the end of next year - a move that will create extra capacity at the company’s busy Durham depot. Campbell Ferrier, general manager for the Teesside and Durham depots, believes the airport’s plans to increase freight capacity may open up opportunities for other logistics companies. He said: “Excellent road links to the north and south of the airport make it easier for companies to ship goods in and out of the region.”
The airport is hoping to generate additional revenues by increasing the range of flights operated by existing airlines in and out of Teesside, and Peel Airports remains opened-minded about a possible bid for one of London’s gateways if a Competition Commission ruling forces BAA to break up its UK portfolio. If this were to happen, it could significantly strengthen current links with Heathrow - a destination Durham Tees has earmarked as a gateway to the global aviation market.
Contrary to everything else I've read, they seem to be putting great store by increased links to Heathrow - do they know something we don't??