Re New start-up
Really appreciate your desire to create something for Teesside again... it needs something - however, and please take this as constructive from someone who's been there three times and done it twice......
1. forget aircraft type at this stage
2. find finacial support (in principal) for about £20m
3. trawl through CAA route stats for regions and point to point routes and try to find gaps to exploit from MME
4. estimate (pesimistic - or at least realistic) the potential pasenger numbers avaialble - better to say won't work on paper than after start-up
5. how will the competition react - hence the £20m "war chest"
6. Having decided that the figures for the market potential add-up - then...
1. draw support from as many regional agencies as possible - if not financial the at least marketing - letters of support from Goverment Agencies can act as good references to approach aircraft suppliers
2. make sure you have the airport behind you - no point in blank looks from MME management when NEcho etc approach them about "new airline"
3. from stats derived from 3,4&5 above start to evaluate aircraft - if 1&2 above have drawn interest you'll find some aircraft leasing companies already interested.
The list goes on, but no short cuts (as my best previous boss used to say...) just hard work and determination - and PLEASE don't get romantic about airlines.... there falls many a good idea... good luck
Teabag1