Airline Could Quit Tees Valley for Newcastle

By Adrian Pearson Regional Affairs Correspondent

ANORTH East airport could lose holiday routes as airlines consider changes to their fleets. As the economy continues to slow down, Flyglobespan has started a review of all flights out of Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Rumours have spread on internet pilot forums that the company could pull out of the airport, which is between Darlington and Middlesbrough, and try to secure business at the larger Newcastle Airport.

Flyglobespan currently flies to southern Spain and Tenerife, but this could change if it finds a better deal or more profitable customer base in Newcastle.

The review comes as financial pressures force airlines to look again at costs and consider money-saving changes.

A spokesman for the airline refused to deny the internet rumours.

He said: "As there is an ongoing review of flights it would be inappropriate to comment on speculation at present."

Travel agent Thomas Cook is also having to reconsider some routes out of Newcastle Airport.

Though the operator will continue offering holidays from the region, it will next year cut flights to the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The charter flights are still available this summer, but will be dropped by the 2009 holiday season.

A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said: "We will continue with the Monarch charter from Newcastle to Orlando on Saturdays for summer 2009.

"We have cancelled the fortnightly flights on Monarch to the Dominican Republic and Cancun for commercial reasons.

"Thomas Cook Airlines will continue to run a full programme of flights from Newcastle to many other top holiday destinations during summer 2009."

The region’s airports are facing the same financial pressures as others in the UK, with the recent drop in oil prices failing to offer much hope to beleaguered airlines.

Newcastle Airport spokesman Graham Mason said the disappointing changes were a reflection of difficult economic conditions.

He said: "There is no doubt about it, these are challenging times.

"We had our best ever year last year and we are not expecting to achieve that again this year, and going into 2009 conditions will remain challenging.

"Oil prices have of course been the biggest factor and the impact that has had on airlines has been obvious.

"Many have had to absorb the losses or pass on cost to customers. This, coupled with the Government’s increase in duties last year, has made it a difficult time."

(c) 2008 The Journal – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.