AN aircraft breaker has been locked out of its hangar, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Sycamore Aviation, which dismantles planes from around the world, does not have access to its Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) base.

Last night, the company said it was working with DTVA bosses to find a resolution and remains hopeful of attracting new contracts.

The airport confirmed it has taken over the hangar, which housed Lancaster bombers in the Second World War.

It said the move doesn’t affect its master plan for the airport’s future, which features a new business hub, including plane dismantling, that bosses hope will help offset falling passenger numbers and axed scheduled and charter flights.

Last week, The Northern Echo revealed Sycamore had suffered a fall in orders as airlines eased back on scrappages due to the busy summer and the need for surplus jets to cover potentially expensive flight delay regulations.

However, Kevin O’Hare, Sycamore’s founder and former captain for Jet2, Flyglobespan and Thomas Cook, said it had bids in place to take apart 12 planes.

He said: “We are in continuing discussions with DTVA on the company’s position and options for moving forward.

“At this time, we do not have access to the hangar we have been using for our operations and this is among the issues we will be addressing in those discussions.”

Sycamore has previously taken apart and recovered high-value spares from Boeing 737s and Airbuses for clients across the world, dismantling planes from various airlines, including KLM, SpanAir and Moscow International.

However, Mr O’Hare said its lack of work was a theme across the whole industry.

He added: “This year has been quiet, but we are hoping the market will pick up in the next couple of months.

“We have the bids out and could hear about those imminently.”

A DTVA spokesman confirmed it had taken back the hangar, but said the airport was confident its business hub plans would continue, with aviation recycling a key component.

He said: “We have had to act to take possession of the hangar and this is a situation we hope can be resolved.

“We have been working closely with Sycamore and undertaking commercial negotiations as we are aware of the company’s position and are continuing to explore all avenues to support them.

“While it is unfortunate Sycamore has found itself in this position, it does not detract from the long-term substantial business opportunities which, as is made clear in our master plant, exist in aircraft dismantling and recycling, and indeed a wide range of other aviation-related activities.

“We are in strong position to move forward in this field, having facilities available with the appropriate planning and environmental approvals in place to attract interest from the aircraft dismantling and recycling sector, which is certainly expected to grow substantially in the future.”