Bates is calling for 'bold plan'.

THE former Teesside MP who questioned the viability of Durham Tees Valley Airport has claimed the region can sustain two airports.

Lord Bates, who as Michael Bates was Langbaurgh's MP from 1991 to 1997, said he was "wholeheartedly committed" to DTVA and called for public and private sector collaboration to map out a strategic blueprint for its future.

The deputy chairman of the Conservative Party had previously stated that the North-east could be too small to host two world-class airports - which led to heavy criticism from local MPs.

His u-turn comes after DTVA suffered the double blow of losing its Ryanair flight to Dublin and seeing passenger numbers fall by more than 12%.

He said: "The airport does have a future but there needs to be urgent discussions on what that future will be. The decision by Ryanair only adds to this urgency.

"We cannot have a situation where we get these announcements airlines axing flights from Tees Valley and are not allowed to debate it.

"The airport operator, regional development agency One North East and the private sector need to pull together to discuss what needs to be done."

He said DTVA was "unusually strong" in that it had plenty of land available for development.

"This gives us an ideal opportunity to strengthen our regional freight operation", he said.

Others have given qualified backing to DTVA.

Aviation consultant Mike O'Donovan said DTVA's aim of attracting 3m passengers per year by 2015 was "achievable" - but only if the airport followed a clearly-defined strategy to win new business.

He said: "DTVA suffers because of Newcastle. It has a shorter runway and doesn't seem to have a bold marketing plan."

CAPTION(S):

U-TURN: Lord Michael Bates, who supports the airport