Newcastle International Airport

Newcastle International Airport represents the 11th busiest Airport in the U.K. and the second busiest in Northern England after Manchester Airport, annually handling over 5.4 million passengers.

Newcastle International Airport

Newcastle International Airport represents the 11th busiest Airport in the U.K. and the second busiest in Northern England after Manchester Airport, annually handling over 5.4 million passengers.

History

The facility was opened on 26 July 1935 as Woolsington Aerodrome by the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Phillip Cunliffe-Lister. Incorporating a hangar, clubhouse, workshops, fuel garage, and grass runway, it costs £35,000 to build. In the 1960s, a new runway was constructed, along with a new air traffic control tower and an apron. These additions were opened by the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson in 1967. In the 1970s, with travelers figures approaching one million annually, the Airport’s status was switched to Category B, which made it a regional international airport. In a couple of years, it was re-branded as Newcastle Airport. In the 1980s, further grants were invested in catering, check-in, and duty-free shops. In 1991, Airport Metro station started its operations, connecting the facility with Newcastle city center using the Tyne and Wear Metro complex.

Since the 2000s

In August 2004, refurbished and extended Departure Terminal was opened. The refurbishment included a 3,000 square meter extension with new cafes, shops, and 1,200 new seats for waiting travelers.

In 2006, 5.4 million passengers used the facility following Civil Aviation Authority figures.

Rapid expansion in traffic has led to increasing commercial use of the south part of the Airport that was previously used for general aviation but is now used for mail, freight, and corporate flights. This is partly because of difficulties obtaining arrival and departure slots for light aircraft traffic, which require to be separated from larger aircraft to protect against wake turbulence. As an element of the Airport Master Plan, the south-side area is to be expanded with maintenance pieces of equipment, including new hangar and apron areas.

In 2007, it was announced that Emirates was to start a daily non-stop service to Dubai from the NCL. This service began on 7 September 2007 and was operating ever since.

In August 2016, United Airlines announced it’s the decision of discontinuing seasonal routes from Newark to Newcastle in 2017, citing economic reasons. Therefore Airport lost one of its two long-haul services. Emirates flies the other long-haul route to Dubai.

In 2017, it was declared that the Airport would be investing around £3 million on a terminal expansion project, which represented part of overall £20 million improvement plans running from 2016 to 2017. This plan included digital signage in the check-in areas alongside a new radar system and the installation of new flooring.