In a significant move to take advantage of the booming inbound tourism market, the Durham Tees Valley has launched an extensive plan to widen its network and expand the portfolio of the destinations in Europe. This decision is eventually followed by the massive investment plans by the airline to meet the above said end. By the year 2012, the hub has concrete plans to see that the air traffic is almost doubled than the existing figures. The airline feels that the principal key to achieve this target is to introduce new connections to Europe.  

According to the statement of a spokesman of the airport, the airport will work with those airlines presently operating flights to various destinations in Europe. This move is expected to increase the number of options made available to passengers in addition to consolidating the position of the airport as the gateway to the region.

Neil Pakey, deputy chief executive officer at Durham Tees Valley Airport's owner, Peel Airports, observed, "We will target summer sun spots in Europe and look to increase traffic between Teesside and Heathrow and Amsterdam - two destinations that give us access to the global market. In addition, we will look to take advantage of in-bound tourism, which is one of the fastest growing markets in the aviation industry."

Most significantly, working in the above said lines, the airport has launched a £3m scheme to install airfield ground lighting along the runway, to be completed by October.