(22 Dec 2023, 10:17 pm)solsburian wrote The 777 is not a good case of money we'll spent. I would be more forgiving if it was the Airport sponsoring the service, but it is not an example of a hub and spoke model that can make it sustainable. The airport only has a limited amount of employment opportunities and unless it was to terminate in Newcastle (ignoring the fact the Metro overlaps from Kingston park), it is going to have limited employment and leasire opportunities.
The minute the funding runs out I'd be willing to bet the service will be pulled.
It introduces/reintroduces the following new, direct, links:
Ponteland to Morpeth
Ponteland to Kingston Park
Ponteland to Airport Terminal
Morpeth to Airport
Morpeth to Kingston Park
Morpeth to Kirkley Hall
I personally think it's a much better use of the money than improving frequencies on already established services (not including evening services in that, or where it is a significant increase on an extension such as the 43 to Morpeth).
Newcastle Airport is horrendous to get to with public transport, given the unreliability of the Metro and how much of the North East that system doesn't serve, so a new bus service to it should be applauded really, especially if it helps to take cars off the road.
Obviously the service number is a nod to it being an airport bus, but it looks to be trying to do more than that given the route.