DURHAM TEES VALLEY AIRPORT - 4
Join Date: Jun 2007
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MME is not the first regional airport in the world to encounter such difficulties. I don't wish to dwell on the name, but one thing that does bemuse foreign visitors is that 'Durham' airport has no direct public transport link to Durham. The free-to-flying-passengers bus to Darlington is a good innovation (well done, One NorthEast), but it goes either empty or packed to the gunnells most of the time. Be innovative and create a public transport hub at the airport - with regular buses linking Durham, Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough all going via the airport. People will then see how easy it is to get to and from, and use it more.
That train station is another issue. If only it were used! I understand that a while back Manchester Airport managed to persuade TransPennine Trains to extend their service to the airport, instead of terminating in Manchester. This ensured that the destination 'Manchester Airport' appeared on railway station departure screens across Yorkshire and North East England. What great publicity.
A free car park would also do wonders.
That train station is another issue. If only it were used! I understand that a while back Manchester Airport managed to persuade TransPennine Trains to extend their service to the airport, instead of terminating in Manchester. This ensured that the destination 'Manchester Airport' appeared on railway station departure screens across Yorkshire and North East England. What great publicity.
A free car park would also do wonders.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: England
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DTV or MME or Middleton ST.George
We could argue all day and frequently do about the merits and /or future of DTV.
Truth is these arguments have raged since the opening all those years ago of MMEDTV as a civil airport.If the passage of time tells us anything,then it should have been left as an RAF station. Just think of the investment into Leeming and this coupled with Leemings appaling winter weather record would in hindsight have made Middle ST.George a much better choice.
DTVMME will never be a success...too much competition,apathy and mis management to make it any other.
Its a good diversion airport for Leeds and thats about it!
Just had a look on another forum at the 2008 summer programme...not much income or profit there then!!
Not really sure where we stumble to next...you guys got any other bright ideas? How about a new name???
Truth is these arguments have raged since the opening all those years ago of MMEDTV as a civil airport.If the passage of time tells us anything,then it should have been left as an RAF station. Just think of the investment into Leeming and this coupled with Leemings appaling winter weather record would in hindsight have made Middle ST.George a much better choice.
DTVMME will never be a success...too much competition,apathy and mis management to make it any other.
Its a good diversion airport for Leeds and thats about it!
Just had a look on another forum at the 2008 summer programme...not much income or profit there then!!
Not really sure where we stumble to next...you guys got any other bright ideas? How about a new name???
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Bartrams I feel your only looking at the passenger side of the airport. Are you saying that FRA and Flight Precision are not a succesful part of the airport's business, what about all the GA traffic that goes through the airport. This forum tends to concentrate on the passenger side of operations at airports. It forgets that at an airport like MME there are more than just pax. True passengers are what brings the publicity and it is true that the managment at the airport are awful at attracting them, but there is much more than just passengers at MME.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Onion,
I take your points but think that the focus is on revenue generation; FRA and Flight precision may contribute to the coffers but GA contributes very little. Commercial passenger and/or cargo flights are the revenue generators and passengers more so because of their dwell spend (car park, food, drink etc.).
Paarmo thinks that my previous posts have been negative but I would prefer realistic. I've worked at many airports and have been ivolved in increasing sustainable business within a ground handling environment. The airport management teams I have worked with have varied enormously in terms of ability and it is relatively easy when arriving at an airport to make a judgement about their abilities in assisting with the growth of the business I am charged with. It is many years since I have had active involvement with DTV but I'm not sure that senior management has taken any real steps forward since then. Several years ago I witnessed part of their presentation to a very large loco (before this loco made a decision re NE airports) and it was not impressive. Amateur and missing the point would have been my response. Needless to say the loco went for another NE airport.
DTV has some very good points to raise but it is currently suffering from an identity crisis.
Just think of airline executives travelling to the airport by road to discuss the launch of a new service.
Road access - improved but still not good.
Road signs - now which airport are we going to see? Teesside or Durham Tees Valley
Driving in - does it give the impression of a vibrant airport?
..and all this before you get to the car park and terminal building.
Now, lets pop into Durham for lunch...eeerrr how far??!!
GH
I take your points but think that the focus is on revenue generation; FRA and Flight precision may contribute to the coffers but GA contributes very little. Commercial passenger and/or cargo flights are the revenue generators and passengers more so because of their dwell spend (car park, food, drink etc.).
Paarmo thinks that my previous posts have been negative but I would prefer realistic. I've worked at many airports and have been ivolved in increasing sustainable business within a ground handling environment. The airport management teams I have worked with have varied enormously in terms of ability and it is relatively easy when arriving at an airport to make a judgement about their abilities in assisting with the growth of the business I am charged with. It is many years since I have had active involvement with DTV but I'm not sure that senior management has taken any real steps forward since then. Several years ago I witnessed part of their presentation to a very large loco (before this loco made a decision re NE airports) and it was not impressive. Amateur and missing the point would have been my response. Needless to say the loco went for another NE airport.
DTV has some very good points to raise but it is currently suffering from an identity crisis.
Just think of airline executives travelling to the airport by road to discuss the launch of a new service.
Road access - improved but still not good.
Road signs - now which airport are we going to see? Teesside or Durham Tees Valley
Driving in - does it give the impression of a vibrant airport?
..and all this before you get to the car park and terminal building.
Now, lets pop into Durham for lunch...eeerrr how far??!!
GH
Join Date: Feb 2001
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In terms of posts on Pprunne this is the only area in which MNE punches above its weight, what MNE needs is Ryanair to put it on the map, the customer base is ideal, they are down to earth and want value for money, not the fur coat no knickers crowd, ok so some don't wear knicker but you get my drift, if it ani't Ryan it will end up an industrial estate
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Inkjet and Oldart
I think you will find that Mr Ryan does send his aircraft to MME and as for a name change what about Parmo International ( Culinary Teesside pun for any foreigners reading. )
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Groundhand
Just about says it all...
The name change was no doubt with hindsight one of a number of business critical actions that the management got completely wrong and as a result the airport has suffered or in this case left with an 'achilles heel'. However the most fundamental gaff which still persists is the reward of total incompetence, with the continued employment of Hughie & his entourage.
Constantflyer touched on the fundamental issue to address and that is the access. As long as DTV remains to a greater extent an isolated & reasonably inaccessible field (insofar as those traveling from outside the immediate area) then nothing much is likely to change. Any new airline looking for volume in pax no.'s would likely struggle with the current infrastructure and as likely as not, be well gone before the necessary support was in place.This is not a 'chicken & egg' situation as the airlines will not come (in the current market) before the infrastructure
Just think of airline executives traveling to the airport by road to discuss the launch of a new service.
The name change was no doubt with hindsight one of a number of business critical actions that the management got completely wrong and as a result the airport has suffered or in this case left with an 'achilles heel'. However the most fundamental gaff which still persists is the reward of total incompetence, with the continued employment of Hughie & his entourage.
Constantflyer touched on the fundamental issue to address and that is the access. As long as DTV remains to a greater extent an isolated & reasonably inaccessible field (insofar as those traveling from outside the immediate area) then nothing much is likely to change. Any new airline looking for volume in pax no.'s would likely struggle with the current infrastructure and as likely as not, be well gone before the necessary support was in place.This is not a 'chicken & egg' situation as the airlines will not come (in the current market) before the infrastructure
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Lancelot,
Drop the 'International' and you have it about right.
What was it about airport committees in the '70's that thought by adding 'International' somehow managed to change their airports?
Teesside Airport.
Does what it says on the tin.
Drop the 'International' and you have it about right.
What was it about airport committees in the '70's that thought by adding 'International' somehow managed to change their airports?
Teesside Airport.
Does what it says on the tin.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Ryan Air and Inkjet
Dear Inkjet, You extolled the virtues of Ryan Air and stated that MME needed them at the expense of any underwear. Well we have them and they didn't bother turning up today for the first flight of the season to ALC. Lots of very upset passengers who Mr Ryan hadn't bothered telling and more bad publicity for Teesside Airport as the people interviewed on local TV kept calling it.
I know the axiom "there is no such thing as bad publicity " but the drip drip drip of bad news is beginning to tell even if as in this instance it would appear to have nothing to do with the airport.
As an aside is there a prize from the moderator for the 100,000 visitor to this post. I see we are at 99,200 at the moment and rising rapidly. It may be that people like reading about bad news all the time rather than fluffy stories about Ryan Air and missing underwear.
I know the axiom "there is no such thing as bad publicity " but the drip drip drip of bad news is beginning to tell even if as in this instance it would appear to have nothing to do with the airport.
As an aside is there a prize from the moderator for the 100,000 visitor to this post. I see we are at 99,200 at the moment and rising rapidly. It may be that people like reading about bad news all the time rather than fluffy stories about Ryan Air and missing underwear.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Paarmo
You missed my point? its not about Ryan turning up (or not?) for the first ALC, but rather the volume that they can bring to an airport by basing some units there. I think MNE is a super little airport to fly from with cheap-ish parking and a good road net work, it should be doing much better than it is, so whats wrong? baby came and went, Globespan made a big fuss, but haven't done much, is Leeds and Newcastle too close or is it the airport bosses wanting to much?
Join Date: Aug 2007
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What's wrong?
If the Airport knew what was wrong they would try and fix it I think or rather I hope. They have tried virtually everything to try and attract business but nothing seems to work for long.
I think that they are about to give up the ghost or that seems to be the impression in the area. After all virtually all airports are showing expansion especially in the South of England but DVT seem to be swimming against the tide.
I think that they are about to give up the ghost or that seems to be the impression in the area. After all virtually all airports are showing expansion especially in the South of England but DVT seem to be swimming against the tide.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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I'm just wondering where Durham comes into it? Surely Middlesbrough International Airport would be better and yes with the International bit then it does what it says on the tin.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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It's mainly an identity crisis. No one knows where it is or the population area that it serves.
Friends visited us from Australia and asked for the nearst airport to Middlesbrough. The travel agent checked and said "Do you want Newcastle or Manchester."
Time someone got their finger out before it disappears.
Friends visited us from Australia and asked for the nearst airport to Middlesbrough. The travel agent checked and said "Do you want Newcastle or Manchester."
Time someone got their finger out before it disappears.
Where's this MNE airport (and BPL)?
Durham was put into the airport title as it is a World Heritage site and was thus thought to have a higher recognition factor abroad and it was hoped to attract more inbound customers.
Doubt whether many people outside the UK know where Middlesbrough is.
Durham was put into the airport title as it is a World Heritage site and was thus thought to have a higher recognition factor abroad and it was hoped to attract more inbound customers.
Doubt whether many people outside the UK know where Middlesbrough is.