Airport bosses slammed for snow chaos
3:24pm Tuesday 5th January 2010
A NORTH-EAST airport has come under fire after its timetable was decimated by snow and ice.
Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) reopened yesterday afternoon after several days of canceled and diverted flights.
Several airport enthusiasts have contacted The Northern Echo to complain about the situation.
One enthusiast, Peter Harris, said: "Both Newcastle and Leeds have had some problems but the vast majority of their flights have operated.
"At one time Teesside Airport used to handle many diverting aircraft especially from Leeds. "This is supposed to be an international airport - it seems to me in name only."
Further comments have been left on the Professional Pilots Rumour Network website.
They question why the Teesside airport has been so badly affected compared to Newcastle and Leeds Bradford airports.
In response, airport bosses said they were having to deal with some of the most challenging weather conditions faced in recent years with continuing snow showers falling on compacted ice.
A statement issued by the airport added: "Temperatures have remained below freezing over a long period and they have fallen as low as -9.5C. We are doing everything possible to deal with the situation but I am sure that people will understand that our first concern has to be safety."
Ironically back up and running today and accepting divs...