Newcastle Airport projects record summer with 1.4m passengers

Newcastle Airport expects summer passenger numbers to rise by almost 10% more than last year to a record 1.4 million.

More than 4,000 flights are set to depart over the summer school holiday period.

Alicante, Antalya, Ibiza and Palma are projected to be among the busiest routes, while European city-break destinations such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen and Paris will be in high demand. 

Multiple daily flights to international hubs will also provide onward connections to long-haul destinations including Bali, New York, Singapore, Thailand and Tokyo. 

EasyJet will be serving 21 destinations, including Lisbon and Nice, following the opening of its new base at the north-east airport earlier this year. 

New services to Prague, Reus, Sharm El Sheikh and Tenerife will added in August.

Jet2 has also expanded its Newcastle network with new routes to Porto, Preveza and Palermo, while Ryanair has added Budapest, Malta and Marrakech.

The airport has spent almost £60 million over recent years, including a three-storey terminal extension, creating a larger departure lounge with additional seating and toilet facilities. 

An extended security search area will operate during peak periods, helping to ensure 99% of passengers continue to pass through security in under 10 minutes. 

The international baggage hall is also being expanded, with five baggage belts operating this summer to make the arrivals process quicker. 

Chief executive Nick Jones, said: “Welcoming more than 1.4 million passengers this summer will be a record-breaking achievement for Newcastle Airport and reinforces our position as the northeast’s gateway to the world. 

“Demand for travel has never been stronger, with passengers benefiting from more destinations and increased capacity across our network than ever before, thanks to the continued investment from our airline partners. 

“As we prepare for our busiest summer, we have invested almost £60 million over the last couple of years in our facilities to ensure passengers continue to enjoy a world-class experience and to support the growing demand we expect to see in the years ahead.”