- Durham Tees Valley Airport
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Durham Tees Valley Airport 
IATA: MME – ICAO: EGNV Summary Airport type Public Owner Peel Airports Ltd (75%)
local authorities (25%)Operator Durham Tees Valley Airport Ltd. Serves North East England, North Yorkshire Location Darlington, County Durham Elevation AMSL 120 ft / 37 m Coordinates 54°30′33″N 001°25′46″W / 54.50917°N 1.42944°W Website Map Location in County Durham
EGNVRunways Direction Length Surface m ft 05/23 2,291 7,516 Asphalt Statistics (2009) Passengers 289,464 Aircraft movements 25,208 Freight (tonnes) 298 Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]Durham Tees Valley Airport (IATA: MME, ICAO: EGNV) is an international airport in north east England, located 4.7 NM (8.7 km; 5.4 mi) southeast of Darlington,[1] about 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Middlesbrough and 24 mi (39 km) south of Durham. The airport serves County Durham and parts of North Yorkshire, and is in Middleton St George in the borough of Darlington. Most local residents still refer to it by its previous name, Teesside International Airport.
Durham Tees Valley Airport is one of the United Kingdom's smaller airports, but offers links to several domestic and European destinations. The airport has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (number P518) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers and for flying instruction. Originally an RAF Station, the airfield became Teesside International Airport in the 1960s and was renamed Durham Tees Valley Airport in 2004. The majority shareholder in the airport is Peel Airports Ltd which owns 75%,[3] while the remaining 25% is owned by a consortium of local authorities, consisting of Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Councils. In 2010, Vancouver Airport Services purchased a controlling 65% stake in Peel Airports Ltd.
Passenger numbers peaked in 2006 when the airport was used by 917,963 passengers, but declined to 224,673 in 2010, the lowest level seen at the airport since 1975.[2]
In November 2010 the airport introduced a passenger levy of £6 to curb the airports losses.[4] However, despite the introduction of the Passenger Facility Fee, in the first stages of 2011 the airport received a considerable increase in passenger numbers with a 47% increase in January and a 24% increase in February compared to 2010.
Contents
History
RAF station
Main article: RAF Middleton St. GeorgeThe airfield began its life as Royal Air Force Station Goosepool, and in 1941 became RAF Middleton St. George. The RAF station was closed in 1963 and the airfield was put up for sale.
Teesside International
The former RAF Station and airfield was purchased by the former Cleveland County Council, which saw the potential of the airfield as a commercial one, and developed it into a civil airport. The first flight from the airport took place in 1964 with a Mercury Airlines service to Manchester. Princess Margaretha of Sweden opened the international passenger terminal in 1966.
Passengers boarding a British Midland Viscount 813 in 1987
British Midland Douglas DC-9s at the airport in 1994After flights to Manchester the airport continued to develop a small yet strong network of both scheduled and inclusive tour charter routes. In November 1969 the first flight to London Heathrow was operated by British Midland—this route continued operating until 28 March 2009.
1990 saw the one millionth aircraft movement at the airport, in the form of a British Midland service to London Heathrow. In 1996 when Cleveland County Council was abolished, the airport ownership was divided amongst local Borough Councils.
In 2002 the airport sought a strategic partner to assist with future development and Peel Airports Ltd was selected as the preferred company, taking a 75% stake in the airport with a commitment to invest £20m over the subsequent five years.
Durham Tees Valley Airport
On 21 September 2004 the airport was renamed Durham Tees Valley Airport as part of a major redevelopment plan. The renaming was unpopular with some local residents.[5]
The name was changed in order to place the airport better geographically, as many of the airport's passengers, particularly those from outside the UK, were unfamiliar with the location of Teesside, whilst Durham is better known.
Shortly afterwards, a new access road, terminal front and terminal interior were completed, but the remainder of a planned £56 million expansion and development programme which would have enabled the airport to handle up to 3 million passengers annually never materialised due to the above mentioned decrease in passenger numbers.[6][7][8][9] Other minor developments have seen new airfield lighting installed and £250k that had originally been set aside to replace the condemned roof on one of the hangars has been instead used on much needed repair works on the terminal.
Passenger levy
On 15 November 2010 the airport introduced a passenger levy of £6 for adults and £2 for children to curb the airport's growing losses. Passengers must purchase a ticket from a machine before being allowed to proceed through security.[10] Similar schemes are already in place at other small English airports including Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich.[4]
Ground transport
Bus
The axed Sky Express bus serviceThe Sky Express bus service was launched in May 2005 and connected the airport with Darlington's Rail Station and Town Hall. Travel was free for bona-fide passengers. The service ran up to every hour during the day and was operated by Arriva North East. The service ceased operation on 25 January 2009.
Arriva presently operates services 12 and 20, the 12 runs from Hurworth/Neasham and Darlington to the airport. The 12 runs every hour at 00:47 from the airport terminal, providing links to Darlington only; The extension of service 12 between Durham Tees Valley Airport and Teesside was withdrawn as a result of cancellation of Stockton Council financial support .[11]
Car
The airport is situated off the A67 and is within easy reach of the A1(M), A19, A66 corridors, it is well signposted from all major routes (sometimes as Teesside Airport). A significant upgrade to complete a fast link direct to the airport from the A66 was completed in 2008.[12]
Rail
Whilst the airport has its own railway station, rail links are poor as this remote station, some distance from the terminal building, is served only by two trains per week. The station is a 15-minute walk from the airport terminal.[13]
On Saturday 24 October 2009, a group of 26 people travelled to and from the airport station on the only scheduled service, to highlight the station's existence and its poor rail service, and to persuade rail authorities to move it 500 metres closer to the airport terminal.[13][14][15]
A new station could be built closer to the terminal, as part of the Tees Valley Metro project.[16]
Taxi
Taxis are available directly outside the airport terminal.
Airlines and destinations
Airlines Destinations BH Air Seasonal: Bourgas Eastern Airways Aberdeen KLM operated by KLM Cityhopper Amsterdam Thomson Airways Seasonal: Alicante (ends 24 April 2012), Palma de Mallorca (begins 5 May 2012), Tenerife South (ends 28 April 2012) General aviation
A number of flight training schools and flying clubs are based at the airport.
Other operators
Durham Tees Valley is a base for Cobham plc, who have a fleet of six Dassault Falcon 20s based at the airport. Cobham's Durham Tees Valley aircraft fly electronic countermeasure flights for the Royal Air Force and other NATO air forces. These aircraft can be found on exercise, usually around the UK or Europe.
Cobham Flight Inspection is a Durham Tees Valley based Cobham subsidiary who operate two Beech B200 Super King Airs & a single Beech B350 Super King Air. They also have a single Diamond DA42 Twin Star on order which is due for delivery in December.[17]
The Great North Air Ambulance has a single Aerospatiale AS365 Dauphin based at the airport. Cleveland Police has its Air Operations Unit based in the form of a Eurocopter EC135.
Statistics
Number of Passengers Aircraft Movements Cargo
(tonnes)2000 746,983 54,625 3,011 2001 733,617 58,494 1,926 2002 671,131 52,276 1,006 2003 704,269 51,976 1,087 2004 788,382 49,529 484 2005 900,035 51,714 363 2006 917,963 55,788 457 2007 743,727 57,515 786 2008 654,192 45,310 290 2009 289,464 25,208 298 2010 224,673 20,756 N/A Source: CAA Official Statistics[18] References
- ^ a b Durham Tees Valley - EGNV
- ^ a b UK Airport Statistics: 2009 - annual
- ^ "Peel Airports". Peel Holdings. http://www.peelholdings.co.uk/peelholdings/peelairports/airports.html. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
- ^ a b "Passengers charged to use Durham Tees Valley Airport". BBC News. 2010-10-15. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11549449.
- ^ "Airport asked public to pay for new signs". The Northern Echo. http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/search/display.var.935975.0.airport_asked_public_to_pay_for_new_signs.php.
- ^ "Airport's £1.3m revamp approved". BBC News (bbc.co.uk). 2006-12-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6173137.stm. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
- ^ "Durham Tees Valley Airport oppose new hotel plans". UK Airport News (UK Airport News). 2007-07-27. http://www.uk-airport-news.info/durham-tees-valley-airport-news-270707.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Durham Tees Valley Airport hotel plans approved". UK Airport News (UK Airport News). 2007-08-02. http://www.uk-airport-news.info/durham-tees-valley-airport-news-020807.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ "War of words over new Durham Tees Valley Airport hotel". UK Airport News (UK Airport News). 2007-08-04. http://www.uk-airport-news.info/durham-tees-valley-airport-news-040807.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ http://www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com/airport-information/passenger-facility-fee-pff.html
- ^ ArrivaBus website: 12 - Hurworth - Darlington - Trees Park Village/Durham Tees-Valley Airport
- ^ "Airport welcomes road improvement". BBC News (bbc.co.uk). 2007-02-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6331105.stm. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
- ^ a b "Rail buffs to highlight Teesside Airport 'ghost station'". The Journal. Trinity Mirror. 2009-10-14. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5kox36iSU. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ "Airport outing bid to promote station". The Northern Echo. Newsquest. 2009-10-14. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5koya1kwy. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ "Busy day at rarely-used train station". The Northern Echo. Newsquest. 2009-10-26. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. http://www.webcitation.org/5kp4Sj8cC. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ "Tees Valley Metro" (PDF). Darlington Transport Forum. 2008-10-06. http://www.darlington.gov.uk/PublicMinutes/Darlington%20Transport%20Forum/October%206%202008/Item%205%20-%20Tees%20Valley%20Metro.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ "Cobham Flight Inspection lands £10m deal". nebusiness.co.uk. 2011-08-31. http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/latest-business-news/2011/08/31/cobham-flight-inspection-lands-10m-deal-51140-29331503. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
- ^ UK Airport Statistics
External links
Media related to Durham Tees Valley Airport at Wikimedia Commons
Airports in the United Kingdom and the Crown DependenciesEngland Birmingham · Blackpool · Bournemouth · Bristol · Doncaster-Sheffield · Durham Tees Valley · East Midlands · Exeter · Humberside · Leeds-Bradford · Liverpool · London City · London-Gatwick · London Heathrow · London Luton · London Southend · London Stansted · Manchester · Newcastle · Newquay · Norwich · Plymouth · Southampton
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Smaller font-size indicates airports handling domestic, charter or private services only. Categories:- Airports in England
- Transport in County Durham
- Locations in the Tees Valley
- Transport in Middlesbrough
- Peel Airports
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