BUSINESS at Teesside Airport could triple by 2015, rather than double by 2030, it was announced this week.

The forecast was made by Hugh Lang, managing director, who said the Government's plans for the future of air transport, unveiled in a White Paper on Tuesday, had given the airport a boost.

The paper sets out a 30-year plan for air travel in the UK and supports proposals for both improved terminal facilities and the potential extension of the runway at Teesside - due to be re-named Durham-Tees Valley Airport next year.

It said it has an advantage over many other airports because of the very low numbers of people affected by noise - and its plans for improved transport links.

"This is just the kind of green light we wanted from the Government," said Mr Lang. "They have clearly taken the view that regional airports have a very important role to play in the future development of services and, wherever possible, they should be given the chance to maximise their potential within the commercial market.

"The White Paper suggests our passenger numbers could double by 2030, but in reality we know that business is likely to increase much more rapidly than that.

"The Government's own growth forecasts indicate that in fact our numbers could triple by 2015 which we believe is a more realistic prediction, especially now we have the commitment of Peel Airports to invest £20m over the next five years, with £3m planned for expected growth in the coming year."

Customers should start to notice changes within the next few weeks, with work on the new access road and terminal improvements coming on stream quickly.

"The whole thrust of our plans is to enable Teesside to be a major player in the rapidly expanding low-cost and 'point to point' European services sectors and I believe in the very near future we will be seeing announcements on a range of new flights and destinations."

Frank Cook, Stockton North MP, said: "I believe that, despite the recent controversy over the name change, there remains a huge amount of goodwill towards the airport.

"The challenge to everyone involved is to maintain that level of goodwill and support and the way to do that is to turn their ambitious plans into reality just as quickly as possible."

Newcastle Airport predicts it could reach nearly 10m passengers a year over the next ten to 15 years.

Developments would include terminal expansion and improvements to runway, taxiway, road access, car parking and public transport as well as freight and commercial property development including extra hotels and a petrol station.

John Parkin, chief executive said: "Newcastle International is an engine for the prosperity for the region and Government support for our plans will help us develop our airport in time to meet the ever-growing demand in the area."

By 2016, at least 3,500 new jobs would be generated on-site and the airport could be supporting as many as 18,300 jobs in the region.

Alan Clarke, chairman of One North-East, said: "Our airports play a key role in boosting the tourism industry as well as being important job providers in their own right."

One issue of extreme importance was the Government's recognition that regional airports needed to maintain services with London.

Bob Gibson, chairman of the North-East Assembly and Association of North-East Councils, said: "The importance of airport development for the economy and as a stimulus to the region's regeneration is unequivocal.

"A national policy that encourages and facilitates the development of Newcastle and Teesside airports is excellent news for the North-East."

Minster debt

THE £4.50 compulsory admission charge introduced at York Minster in August has led to a 20pc jump in its revenue. But cathedral accounts show that it still overspent by more than £600,000 in 2002-3 - the third year running it has had a deficit in excess of £500,000