Maybe therein lies the problem. Is there really enough demand to support two viable airports so close.
Is Newcastle making money? If it is there is one viable and one unviable airport in the region.
I think VentureGo is suggesting that all efforts should be put into promoting Newcastle as the prime airport in the region, with good links to it from the Teeside area. The decision whether to close/expand an airport remains with the private companies owning them; however how much money is spent on infrastructure etc. is influenced by the local councils etc.
Lord Adonis suggested, incidentally, that better rail services are needed to the North-East. In the case of Newcastle to Manchester, this will happen with electrification. He suggested the link to Middlesbrough should be electrified as this is not part of the current proposals. He also wanted faster rail times from the region in general to London; but this is a long-term ambition as the line is near capacity at the moment.