From the Northern Echo - no idea if these comments have any substance or are just kite-flying:
The region’s business leaders have defended the Passenger Facility Fee that comes into effect on November 15, but last night the move looked as though it could backfire. Budget airline Ryanair may scrap its summer services to Spain in protest and other airlines are monitoring the situation to see what impact the fee has.
The other English airports which have done this (Blackpool, Newquay, Norwich) have at least tried to link it to airport development, where is this seems to be of the use it or lose it, loss stemming (not profit making) variety.
Another quote:
Craig Richmond, Peel Airports chief executive, told The Northern Echo that the airport is losing millions of pounds every year and, unless it can balance the books, the region could lose what he called “a jewel of an airport”.
Mr Richmond said: “I understand some people might be quite incensed by this announcement given the economic climate. This is not an attempt to pad our pockets, we must do it to survive. The fact is somebody has to pay for it or Durham Tees Valley won’t exist. We won’t get bailed out by the Government and our investors are not going to be infinitely patient, writing cheques to keep the airport open."