ncleflights yes the decline at Newcastle did start earlier and it was a result of the government's decision to increase APD having a particularly significant impact on marginal low cost domestic routes such as STN, BRS, BFS and some European routes. Yes, if the analysis is undertaken on a two year basis is does currently show Newcastle in a worse light than most airports. However, it is now performing better than many of the other airports in very difficult trading conditions and with a much smaller and less affluent natural catchment area than some other airports enjoy. The current management team appear to be steering the airport to a path of sustainable growth unlike the previous CEO who was only interested in building passenger numbers which were plainly unsustainable as it is the airlines which dictate which services they start and they finish. If they were sustainable they would still be there!