THE owner of Durham Tees Valley airport needs to "put its money where its mouth is" and offer services that help the region’s businesses to trade with the world.

That was the response from influential business leader Mike Matthews to the chairman of Peel Airports who this week committed his company to Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) for at least five years and is planning for at least ten years.

The airport’s daily flights to Aberdeen and Amsterdam are regarded as vital to scores of business across the region but the number of destinations on offer has fallen steadily over the last eight years meaning passenger numbers have slumped by 750,000 to about 150,000 a year, and losses widened to £2m. Peel hopes to make up for the cash shortfall by converting some of the airport land into housing, offices and warehouses.

Peel says it has invested £34m since it took charge of the site and will continue to invest in the coming years. In his interview this week with The Northern Echo, Robert Hough, the chairman of Peel Airports argued that since the last recession, however, smaller airports across Europe have struggled to attract airlines. He insisted that Peel had not given up on the aviation side of DTVA but admitted there are no new flights in the offing despite the recent report by Lord Heseltine stressing that the airport was a key to the local economy.

Mr Matthews, the boss of plastic parts manufacturer Nifco and president of the NECC, who flies regularly from DTVA, said: "I think Durham Tees Valley Airport does have a long term future, but it needs the routes, services and investment to make sure it is fulfilling the needs of the surrounding area and wider region.

"With the current uncertainty in our economy, it is understandable that Peel are only looking five years into the future, but a lot can be achieved in that period of time and I’m sure that with the correct investment, DTVA can recover from a somewhat troubled few years.

"The relationship between DTVA and business must be mutually beneficial. Launch the services that will help firms reach target markets, market offers to the right people and generally deliver a high and consistent level of service and I have no doubt that people will come back to DTVA."

Graham Robb, chairman of the IoD in the North East, believed that Peel has a "workable plan" to use the proceeds from development for investment in the airport, adding: "I’m sure the local council will use its planning powers to reach legal agreements that ensure any planning permission is related to the airport’s future.

"Business wants a successful airport, it uses the flights to Schiphol as a gateway to the world and would welcome a wider choice of destinations.

"The Heseltine report rightly saw the airport as an asset and we want to see it fully exploited. To plan for five years seems reasonable, but the time needs to be used effectively and the operator held to account for its promises to deliver."

Mr Matthews concluded: “I feel an airport with a strong offer, flying to key locations and providing an excellent experience can thrive in the Tees Valley, but it’s up to Peel to put its money where its mouth is and make flying from DTV a viable and attractive option. That may not be competing against Newcastle International Airport, but rather complementing it, filling any gaps that it may have in its roster of destinations.

"I believe, like (Lord) Heseltine, that DTVA is an asset to the region and the business community – we must support it – and it must support us."