12:51pm Thursday 24th June 2010
By Owen McAteer
MAJOR Tees Valley companies and Middlesbrough Football Club have pledged to make Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) their first choice when travelling from the region.
The signing of the pledge comes as control of the airport passed to Canadian company Vancouver Airport Services, which said its first aim was to boost passenger numbers.
More than 50 companies from across the North-East attended the launch of the Travel Pledge initiative, where businesses commit to making DTVA their first choice for travel whenever possible.
Airport bosses believe the show of support could help attract more services to the airport.
Among the first signatories were international firm ABB Engineering, which has offices in Redcar and Sunderland, and Tracerco, which started in 1958 as a small research team within ICI at Billingham and now has 28 offices around the world, employing 300 people.
When he was appointed as DTVA airport director last month, Mike Morton, who is also in charge at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said he would make winning the support of local businesses a top priority.
He believed it was important that airlines saw people using the airport as it would lead to increased destinations.
Last night, Mr Morton said: “As soon as I arrived at the airport I made it clear that we wanted to work with the local community in developing the airport and especially local businesses because they are key customers and we need their support to maintain our existing services and attract the kind of new routes they require.
“We recognise that many of our businesses increasingly find themselves competing in international, and indeed worldwide, markets which make transport links vital.”
Gillian Form, of ABB’s business development team, said: “We have a close relationship with the airport and we fully back their efforts to provide the kind of flights we need. The pledge is an initiative where everyone can benefit.”
Also at the event was Weston Aviation, the private aircraft charter company which is based at DTVA.
Companies signing up to the pledge will receive a range of incentives, including car parking and lounge access, together with regular business and leisure travel offers and the inclusion of their company logo on the airport’s website.
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