The problem the easyjet Newcastle-Stansted route encountered in his latter days were increases in Air Passenger Duty (it ended up at £24 for a return ticket). It was probably accounting for about a third of the average fare which, given easyjet's average profit across their entire network is only c£5 per seat, made the economics very difficult. Until APD goes, small airports will never prosper as there's little money to be made in UK domestic aviation at present. Let's hope the Government recognises soon that aviation is a stimulant to the economy not a cash cow to be milked dry.