Skyman,if there is not enough passenger volume in the North East, then why were both MME and NCL having huge increases in passenger volume 2 yrs ago. Ryanair have demonstrated that given favourable market conditions you can actually grow a market from nothing in a very short time. These favourable market conditions will return and sooner than most doom and gloom merchants would predict. The leisure industry on Teesside has never been busier and this will overspill into the holiday market sooner rather than later.
As for transport infrastructure I do not see why Scotland which nowadays is effectively a foreign country should have any bearing whatsoever on Teesside.The problem with commuter flights from Teesside especially to London is that we are too close to fly and too far to drive/train.
Growth at Teesside has always been based on the holiday market and the LHR loss whilst hurting local pride was not a major blow in the longterm.
As for needing a strong industrial base to justify an airport,have you actually been to Teesside recently. It is a hive of current activity and building for further industrial enterprises. It is the industrial powerhouse for the North of England. Leeds has banking, Manchester Leisure,Liverpool culture with Newcastle..............Metro Centre?
We don't need to be a special case just to have someone in charge at the Airport who knows what they are doing.The name change is a very minor issue but it demonstrates how inept and out of touch the management are.