AIRPORT chiefs heralded an increase in passenger numbers on its scheduled services as a sign of the "region's competitivess".

According to management at Newcastle Airport, its latest figures reveal the region's business community is showing its support fo their local air services.

Overall growth on scheduled traffic was up five per cent, on the same time last year, with dramatic increases into vital European hub airports. Passenger numbers to Amsterdam were up ten per cent with 226,000 people using the service in the last 12 months, and the Paris route saw numbers up 14 per cent.

Business development director at Newcastle Airport, Chris Sanders said: "These figures are extremely encouraging, and highlight the importance of air service connections demanded by regional business and industry.

"It is a top priority for the company to improve, develop and expand our route network to ensure that the North-East is in a position to remain competitive with other parts of the country.

"We will not be content until we have flights operatng to all routes that our customers want, and that can be run on a commerciably vaible basis."

As part of that on October 30 the airport will launch a new scheduled service to Cardiff, with a flight time of 75 minutes.

lGill Airways, which revealed on Friday it was abandoning its Teesside to Aberdeen route, yesterday announced major improvements on its key business routes from Newcastle.

Changes include an extra daily return flight to London Stansted and a new Saturday return service on the same route.

Following the scrapping of the Teesside service, Gill will upgrade its Aberdeen route, offering a promotional fare of £79 return.

Commercial director, Colin Pollard said: "More people are discovering that Stansted offers a speedy alternative to the congested hubs at Heathrow and Gatwick. Our research has shown its development potential.