Press Story

Business travellers should be able to take a direct flight from Newcastle airport to New York's Newark Liberty International airport, according to a new report published today by the think tank IPPR North.

The report shows the strengths of the North East's transport links for manufacturing, especially the regions ports, but calls for better take up by business of digital and broadband connections. It also recommends a single transport authority for the region modelled on the highly successful Transport for London and calls for a 'North East Oystercard'.

The report shows that 1 in 4 businesses in the North East do not use the internet. It also shows that the region struggles to retain IT and telecommunications university graduates, many of whom move to London and the South East.

The report assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the North East's:
o 2 international airports
o 6 sea ports
o Broadband and digital connectivity
o 10,000 miles of roads
o 14.2 million annual railway passenger journeys

Ed Cox, Director of IPPR North, said:

"The North East has huge potential both to drive northern economic prosperity but also national economic growth. But to do that we need to enhance the North East's business connectivity with global markets.

"Newcastle's International airport could connect businesses across the North East with new customers and new business collaborators across North America. What we need is a direct flight to from Newcastle to New York.

"Transport for London is a perfect blue print for the North East to take more power and control over the way transport investment in spent. We need to think big, be bold and work towards a North East-wide Oystercard so that someone could take buses and trains from South Shields to Middlesbrough all on the same smart ticket."

Notes to editors

IPPR's new report - Faraway so close: the North East as an international gateway - is published on Thursday and will be available from: http://bit.ly/IPPR11358

Evaluations show that Newcastle International Airport currently contributes £403 million in GVA to the regional economy and 9,550 jobs (according to York Aviation), while Durham Tees Valley adds £37 million and 600 jobs (according to Regeneris Consulting).