RE the MPs' campaign to save bmi's business flights to London Heathrow from Durham Tees Valley (Echo Business, Sept 19), I would point out that another large airline serves this airport.

KLM runs three flights a day to Amsterdam with a flight time of 85 minutes against bmi's 75 minutes to Heathrow. Both airports are international hubs with, in my opinion, Amsterdam being by far the more user-friendly.

Travellers to London will be able to journey by rail to King's Cross which will take 160 minutes by the existing and new rail services.

Taking the inherent delays in getting to London from Heathrow, the train could be quicker.

I think that after a few weeks bmi would not be missed.

Richard McLaren, Ingleby Barwick, Teesside.