24,790 pax in April would in terms of number of pax throughput, give MME a ranking in the UK somewhere close to Scatsta in Shetland. It does at least comfortably beat other places in Shetland / Orkney like Sumburgh and Kirkwall
The difference being, for the people of the northern isles, they have no choice other than a 200 mile trip in the wild ocean. Therefore the airport is a lifeline.
With a population of only around 20,000 per island group its difficult to increase figures. Imagine if everyone in the Tees area flew as much, per head.