Durham Tees Valley Airport has announced that the number of passengers using the airport in March have increased by more than a third when compared to March 2004.

The airport recorded 37 per cent more travellers than in the previous year, with over 65,000 people passing through the airport.

Ryanair has carried more than 7,500 passengers on its daily service to Rome since its launch in January. Eastern Airways' service to Aberdeen has also performed well, with the airline reporting an 11 per cent increase in passengers during March.

Bmibaby saw a 26 per cent increase previous month's passenger figures - carrying 17,000 passengers last month.

"The airport continues to provide the local community with a range of destinations and services for both the business and leisure markets," said Richard Whitehouse, commercial manager at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Mr Whitehouse also added that the airport is looking forward to further development.

"Airlines such as bmibaby and Ryanair and operators such as Thomson Holidays, who are introducing three new destinations to Corfu, Tunisia and Gerona for this summer, are providing the airport with significant growth over the coming year."

Libra Holidays, a Cypriot specialist operator, will also begin services from the airport this summer.

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