YOUR correspondent who claimed that Newcastle Airport is less than perfect (HAS, Aug 7) should try Gatwick - in two parts, half-a-mile each.

I recently came back from France to Gatwick to catch a connecting flight to Newcastle. Gatwick was crammed with thousands of people, all trying to get a flight out at the same time. Queues trying to get through security were reaching back hundreds of yards.

I realised my 8pm flight to Newcastle could be missed. I had a word with security, and managed to get through. However, with shoelaces undone, and an arthritic knee, I had to break into a sort of trot, with case, and the unending corridors seem to go over where the planes are parked. Not easy. In fact, horrendous. In comparison, Newcastle is a good airport.

Fred M Atkinson, Shincliffe