Hugh Lang, group airports director with Peel Airports - which owns Durham Tees Valley Airport - said: “It would be foolish for us to express anything other than deep disappointment at this development, especially since we have had such a long and successful relationship with bmi.
"Of course, we understand the huge pressures they are facing as a result of both the general economic climate and the specific difficulties they have highlighted arising from the actions of BAA in imposing charges at Heathrow which undermine the ability to maintain regional services and the impact of the punitive Air Passenger Duty charges, but we are anxious to maintain a dialogue with them on possibilities in the future."
I knew they'd have a plan - good grief, lets hope bmi come back, no mention of looking at alternative operators/airports...