Teesside Airport not for sale, says Houchen

BBC News
Naomi Corrigan
21 May 2024

Teesside International Airport is "not for sale" despite interest shown by a UK businessman, mayor Ben Houchen has said.

Michael Flacks said he was "engaged" in talks with officials to buy a 49% stake in the publicly-owned site.

A spokesperson for the airport, near Darlington, confirmed the "expression of interest".

The Tees Valley mayor said his plan for the airport was working and it was "staying as it is".

Mr Flacks' proposed deal would value the airport at £40m, the same price paid by local authorities when it bought it from Peel Holdings in 2019, the Local Democracy Reporting Service, external understands.

He said his plan was to "slightly increase" passenger flights and invest in new facilities such as hangars.

[Read more: Teesside Airport not for sale, says Houchen - BBC News]