There's an advert for an air traffic controller position at Newcastle if anyone is interested, noted it whilst looking on the website earlier.
Back to the US. If I'm in planning from a US airline I'd see Newcastle and question whether I could interrupt a market and upset my alliance buddies by taking traffic away from connections through AMS and CDG. In terms of US geography its really not far for people to travel and I wouldn't want to challenge it.
What I'd prefer is a route to FRA or an alternative to get me back to Newcastle from home. I'm fed up of BA and LHR!!
Still, from an enthusiast point of view, NCL is one of the few airports in Europe that can provide a daily 757 ride!