Tees Business Tees Business Issue 20 | Page 39

The voice of business in the Tees region | 39 Teesside International Airport is T Flying High eesside International Airport continues to soar since returning to public ownership in March, as part of its 10-Year Rescue Plan to grow passenger numbers, attract new routes, support businesses locally and draw new companies to the airport. By popular demand, the airport returned to its original name and was rebranded from Durham Tees Valley Airport earlier this year, owing to its global ambitions and worldwide links. October saw Teesside International Airport host the first in a series of exclusive dinners with business leaders from across Teesside. Attendees experienced Teesside International’s stress-free and business friendly facilities first-hand, as the airport continues to support the Tees Valley’s vibrant and striving business community. The event focused on how Teesside International Airport can become an indispensable link for the 17,500 businesses in the region and came just weeks after the 100th anniversary of one of Teesside International’s airline partners, KLM. KLM, the world’s oldest airline, currently flies three times a day from Teesside to Amsterdam, giving business and leisure passengers from the region opportunities to connect on to a network of over 165 destinations through a seamless transfer at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam. The airport celebrated KLM’s 100th anniversary treating passengers travelling with the airline to cupcakes, flags and t-shirts as they boarded their flights. Re-brand – Teesside International Airport successfully rebranded after coming back into public ownership in March 2019. On route – a new bus service to Teesside International Airport has made travelling to the airport easier and more convenient than ever before. The day was filled with birthday celebrations, as KLM and Teesside International Airport proudly look forward to a bright future, ready for the exciting challenges and opportunities ahead. One of these opportunities includes a new bus service that was launched in November, making traveling to the airport easier and more convenient than ever before. In partnership with bus operator Arriva, the new extension of the Number 12 service now links the airport directly with Darlington town centre, as well as Hurworth, Morton Park and Middleton St George. The new route includes two stops at the terminal building before 9am and four stops after 3pm and has been specifically designed with the airport’s current popular mid-morning departures and afternoon arrivals from Amsterdam and Aberdeen in mind. In addition to a new bus route, Teesside International Airport began a nationwide search to recruit a managing director to help deliver its 10-Year Rescue Plan. The appointment will be the first MD for the airport since it was returned to public ownership, with the role being filled on an interim basis by Stobart Aviation CEO Glyn Jones. The new MD will play an active part in promoting Teesside International Airport’s position within the national and regional aviation sector and Tees Valley’s economic, transportation, planning and investment frameworks. The successful candidate will help secure new airline partners, provide strategic leadership, grow revenue and attract additional investments to help take the airport to the next stage of its development. Teesside International Airport continues to set ambitious targets by providing worldwide access, convenient transportation and support to local businesses in the Tees Valley region.