Sheffield Robin Hood closed though, because of the lack of passengers and destinations. The main problem with MME is that during the Peel years it lost an awful of ground to NCL.
#UTB
Which was nothing to do with peel, who initially
Invested in the airport as promised and drove it to double digit growth and enjoyed the airports record passenger numbers just shy of 1 million.
The spanner in the works was the financial crisis which decimated the travel industry - for some reason peer doesn't get a pass for that despite airports retreating to the larger hubs yet everyone teeside passenger figures or losses are spoken about someone taps their nose though and says "ah but Covid", probably work through another 5 years of that before something else gets the blame
2022 passenger numbers 173k and with much fanfare about being highest in a decade but no mention of being 5.3x less than Peel's much maligned peak or even the 700k the airport enjoyed before anyone heard of peel.
Now how much has been spent to get us from the 35k to the 173k and what will it cost to get it to 700 or 900k? Keep in mind that when it was 900k the airport was still losing money as it has never turned a profit - this is money that is meant to be invested in our area. Isn't value for money? For a few people it is because they get a flight to their destination but for most Teessiders I doubt it it is beyond a bit of local pride.
As for lounges, there's generally public lounges and airline lounges which are far better. The public lounges are decent for the money - Newcastle for example used to be about £25 for standard and £35 for the plus which is far better, but now £39 std and £45 plus, for the £5 I'd take the plus. Better drinks, food menu, quieter, comfort seats etc
For the small cost of a lounge we always take one outbound as it starts the trip off on the right foot. I've used dozens and only had one bad experience - and that was midlands airport and we got a full refund after complaining.
I've never experienced the tales of stag dos or hen dos or really drunk people. Not saying it doesn't happen but it's overstated - they usually dont even allow stag and hen parties and if people are being loud they are usually told to keep it down. We plan it so we get max time in the lounge so for 2-3 usually it covers food in the airport, keep
Phone charged, chill out while waiting on the flight and it's easy enough to get value on the drinks given the prices of pints or spirits in the airport.
You aren't supposed to, but we've always taken crisps snacks and a drink for the plane too which adds to the value further.
Much rather that than save the money and sit in the uncomfortable chairs while two sprogs hit each other in front of you.
Oh and if your flight is delayed you're usually ok to remain in the lounge but depends on the specific lounge
