That page on the movements website seems to sum things up perfectly, that would be my predictions for 2015 too.

Clearly DTVA feel that the additional costs to service the odd 'W' flight to a sun destination isn't worth it (they seem to have explained as much to Thomson and Balkan), so for sun routes to return you'd be looking at somebody starting up an operation like the previous bmiBaby or Globespan set up, or like Monarch at Leeds i.e. on a scale which lets everybody make a few bob.

A more business orientated route such as Dublin, Belfast maybe Bristol is more likely. Again, the question is who? Stobart would be the obvious choice for Dublin, with Flybe or maybe Eastern for the others - otherwise your left with likes of Linksair, CityJet or somebody random like the Minoan operation out of Oxford.

Seems unlikely, but given my history on predictions, expect an announcement on Monday... :ok::ok:

New Website
 

DTVA have launched a new website, wasn't sure at first but I think it's growing on me.

They're also looking to recruit an Aviation Development Manager.

Very like NCL's updated website I think (so basically... A generic modern day website) a kind of off-modern, it's not great but looks tablet-y so it's very popular.

Like the picture of Dubai across the page advertising KLM

news?
 

Ok..guys..well into 2015,,,,please any news Good or bad.we really seem just to be drifting again!!

One bit of positive news seems like the Challenger MERCI...has chucked newcastle for a better product(ie hangarage. At DTV)

Another small cog in the wheel!!:ok:

Good new, the RAFs new Atlas interrupted my lunch today performing ILS approaches.

Bad new the parachute plane was left outside during Friday nights storm and took a mauling from the wind supposed wing, prop and nose wheel damage, credit to DTV movements, might be the same guy who left his Cessna outside last year which ended up in a similar state.

News report 13th Jan 2015 - DTV falls further into the red.
Security costs set to rise?
Durham Tees Valley Airport plunges further into the red | Insider Media

update
 

Not good news on the loss/. Figures but probably not unexpected?

Anyone know why the amsterdams have been cancelled since this morning?

Another downer..thought sycamore (sic) would have had some business in by now?
Cyprus Airbus aircraft.at St.athan.,.do the airport put in for storage?

Airlines right now should be seeing good times. Demand for air transport is good with plenty of airports reporting record high numbers of passengers and oil at just $50 per barrel.
DTV instead is seeing the lowest number of pax per year for over 40 years and the airport is making a hefty loss.

Watching DTV talking about launching a new website is almost delusional. The big hope of aircraft scrapping has fallen flat. Newcastle really isn't that far away.
There must be better and more productive ways to use the land that is MME.

Guys - you've really fought hard, you can be proud and can hold your heads high, but at some point you really have to let go and move on

Agree with HWU, probably not unexpected.

The impact of the Masterplan hasn't been felt yet - whether the plan is the right one or the wrong one, there hasn't been time to tell.

Similarly with Sycamore, probably hasn't been time for the take over to have an impact yet.

David perhaps what you should do with your negative posts

HWAU:

I was originally booked on the 6am flight this morning (booked in mid December) but it was cancelled the week before Christmas. I asked KLM why and they said it was for "operational reasons". Note that the 9:35 inbound last night was also cancelled at the same time.

Looks like a one off as I checked all the weekday flights between now and the end of February and they are all 3 flights a day.

Winter arrived
 

oh no..don't tell me the first snow of the winter has caused problems? Two Hour outbound delay as klm stuck on ground awaiting clearance? Please say I'm wrong.:ugh:

Snow
 

No idea if it was snow related, but this is exactly the reason I switch my KLM flights to Newcastle during the worst of winter. I have two long hauls in the next 3 weeks, both with KLM and one will be the 6am out. I just won't risk an MME snow delay to put more pressure on the working week.

I know it isn't exactly what is needed when we should be supporting the airport, but I don't take the chance.

On a 6am out some weeks back, we got held for nearly an hour because the fireman had slept in....nearly missed my connection!

DTV CLOSED?????
 

Just looking at snow tam and it says airfield closed due clearance??? Is it still closed...I don't live too far and it's clear as a bell here?

I was there a couple of hours ago and there was a fair covering of snow.

KLM
 

A press piece today that states KLM are to accelerate the retirement of the F70. Initial replacement will be E190 with a further announcement soon. With the 190s being a good chunk bigger and no news yet on whether the remaining replacement will be smaller aircraft, I wonder what this does to the economics of our route?

I guess with 100 seats, load factors would drop below 50%? Would that be viable?

E170's would seem like a logical step, same/just a few less seats as the Fk70.

I would have thought the improvement in operating costs on the E190 verses the FK70 would counteract the drop below 50% load factors, nevertheless it's something that worries me, it'll be interesting to see what they choose to replace the remaining FK70s.

There was talk on here that the contract was up for renewal in November and we're now almost in to February so can we assume they signed on for another 3-5 years?

Quite a few 190s have been in over the past year or so, the airport only seems to be lacking a tow-bar for push backs.

Regional airports - RABA comments.
?London capacity must support regional airports too? | Travel Daily UK

And some good pictures of DTV on this site. New chairman.
https://www.facebook.com/FoDTVA

Passenger Figures
 

Some encouraging passenger figures for December -

Aberdeen up 4%
Amsterdam up 6%

And overall passenger figures up 1.9% on last December, even though there was no flight to Lapland this year.

Also some news in Flyer about the airport in bid to attract more GA flights.

FLYER Airportal - General Aviation News

One year on.
 

One year on and Mr Nears hasn't appeared to announce the outcome of the Peel plans?
Durham Tees Valley Airport: Proposed 400-home development could bring cash for schools - Gazette Live
Have Peel dropped the plans in light of the legal action by the Riverside Football club wind turbine company?

Someone posts something positive but that doesn't suit well with Beafer who has to scrape the barrel to find a way to s:mad:t all over it!

I've always been told Spring is the planned time for the housing and wider master plan to start moving up a gear.

mmeman - a more in depth article can be found here

The article doesn't mention it but I believe they're planning on dropping the loathed mandatory-handling rule as part of this.

Poor old Beafer doesn't even realise its now 2015.

If you look at the Tariff document linked from the press release, still refers to mandatory handling for visitors (based can self handle with prior agreement).

Also mentions grass parking - where's that?

There was a grass parking area planned for next to stand 13. As far as I know the mandatory handling will be dropped at some point - it needs to be if they want this to work

Peel won't have anything to do with the house building, they are merely getting the planning permission and then selling the land to a third party, which as I said will be around spring.

Perhaps the best answer to the question is 'the sooner the better'.

Summary
 

ok. Bad.....

Passengers worst since. 1971/1972

Movement way down...but probably not unexpected

Schedules. Only 2 destinations per day.

No holiday flights

Not many ad hoc charters

Lost. Calibration unit
Paint sprayers
Air shows!
Air freight dedicated services

Good....

Retain cobhams,klm,Eastern
Hopefully. Aircraft dismantles
New policy for light aircraft movements
Fire school
Low fuel prices

And then

The master plan!! Housing. Not sure how this fits in to the village master plan of services,schools,roads,doctors and light aircraft(see above)buzzing around...see Bagby!

To summarise as much as you want the airport to survive...?? It's on a balance surely.

Klm Sunday
 

also...anyone know why the late klm hasn't operated the last couple of Sunday's??

The late Sunday hasn't operated for two or more years, but for reasons unknown made a return for about four-six weeks, ending a couple of weeks back

Clear common sense in the RABA comments. Links to Heathrow (specifically), are vital and must be reinstated if the airport expands. Any other London airport will not cut the mustard.

Too many regional airports are in trouble because of the lack of such links. Teesside is a classic case in point: its troubles started when BD withdrew MME-LHR.

Why were the "holiday flights" kicked out?

Insufficient number of 'holiday flights' to justify the cost of handling I believe.

Can you support this comment - was it not the loss of bmiBaby and flyGlobespan, and the reduction of IT flights taking away the throughput from the terminal?

Sorry to all the DTVA supporters but I cannot see how the current airport can survive as a business with the present numbers of public air transport flights. Next to join Plymouth, Manston and Blackpool?

The cost alone of maintaining an ATC Unit and radio navaids/radar is not going to give any change out of £1+million and then add Fire/Rescue to that!

Unless someone can come up with an alternative source of income, maybe non-aviation related, its days must be numbered.

That's why the airport owners the Masterplan (available on the website)

Hear we go again:rolleyes:

Being Realistic (although I know Die Hards will shoot this down!!) - DTV does not have the economics in a wider North East Region to be a viable commercial airport. Any costs / incentives to promote the airport would better be used promoting more flights from Newcastle and better infrastructure to the Tees Valley region linking Rail & Executive style coach links to Newcastle Airport. (Within 50 minutes Maximum - Same as Central London to Heathrow!)

Ground hog day! Final troll floats up!

Must be time to close this whole thread down for good!

When does an "airport" simply become just an "airfield" ?