MAINTAINING the region’s air links with the rest of the world is vital if the North- East is to prosper, the chief executive of Newcastle Airport says.

David Laws said other parts of the UK had already benefited from being able to offer a comprehensive network of flights.

He said: “It is now about time the North-East got its share.”

In an interview with The Northern Echo, Mr Laws welcomed the newspaper’s Keep the Region Flying campaign, which aims to highlight the importance of good air links to and from the region.

The campaign was launched following bmi’s decision to end daily flights to Heathrow from Durham Tees Valley.

Although Newcastle is in competition with Durham Tees Valley, Mr Laws said he wished the airport well in its attempt to find new carriers.

He said Newcastle was not immune from the downturn, with passenger numbers down just over ten per cent last year.

The airport is strongly opposed to Government proposals to increase air passenger duty, which it describes as potentially damaging.

It is also backing plans for a controversial third runway at Heathrow to provide more landing slots for flights from the regions.

Mr Laws described conditions in the aviation industry as tough, but said his airport was still doing all it could to launch new services.

The airport now offers flights to major international hubs such as Heathrow, Paris and Dubai.

Mr Laws also highlighted services to Cancun, in Mexico, and Sharm El Sheik, in Egypt, as examples of more exotic flights available from the airport.

He also revealed a desire to offer more flights to “adventurous”

destinations such as the Seychelles and the Maldives.

He said the goal was one day to offer direct flights from the North-East to New York.

He said: “The region now has a lot to offer in terms of destinations.

“For example, you can now fly from Newcastle to Australia through Dubai in around 20 hours.”