THE new director of Durham Tees Valley Airport has pledged to turn around the fortunes of the site.
Steve Gill, who took on the role of director of Durham Tees Valley Airport and Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster earlier this month, said: “There is a market and there is a demand and I am absolutely determined to fulfil that demand.
“We want more passengers through the door and we are listening to what people want. This is a turnaround opportunity.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to reveal the airport’s true potential.”
He said the airport had suffered from “a couple of difficult years”, adding: “all UK airports have had a difficult couple of years”.
“DTV has lost more passengers than we would have liked - from 220,000 to 190,000.”
Durham Tees Valley Airport has lost of a number of routes in recent years such as Ryanair withdrawing services.
Last month the airport was hit by the collapse of travel operator Holidays 4U which went into administration. The firm flew from Teesside to Turkey.
The airport currently has 90 commercial - scheduled and charter - flights per week, not including business jets and private flights and 153,000 passengers to date this year.
But Mr Gill said he is positive about the airport’s future.
“It’s a bright future for Durham Tees Valley Airport. We have Newmarket Holidays on board starting new routes to Italy and Croatia in May/June next year.
“We are making small steps.
“We are talking to airlines in the UK, Europe and across the world. A large team is going out to Berlin soon.
“And we should not overlook what we have in the strength of KLM going to Amsterdam and from there across the world. KLM is 60% of our business at present.”
Well that's alright then........heaven forbid KLM go away !