Teesside International Airport reveals redevelopment plans ahead of recruitment drive

A North East airport has today revealed its full plans for redevelopment ahead of a new year recruitment drive.

Teesside International Airport has announced that new bars, two new executive lounges and a coffee shop will be created as part of its redevelopment.

The project will also reintroduce the duty free area, along with a new ‘family-friendly’ zone and extra check-in desks.

Work will be undertaken by local firms and is set to be complete by April next year, creating new jobs in the region.

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley mayor, commented: “These great visuals are giving us an early snapshot into an airport on the up.

“These are not images of some distant future that will never materialise, work is already under way and is due to be complete in mere months, in plenty of time to welcome the passengers that will flood through our terminal for our expanded summer 2021 holiday flights.

“New food and drink areas will mean people will be able to relax and grab a great meal before catching their flight.

“As well as bringing in extra check-in desks, we’re bringing back something every airport worth its salt has – a duty free zone.

“We’re expecting 2021, the airport’s 80th anniversary year, to be the biggest and best in a very long time as we begin to see the results of the coronavirus vaccine and people book holidays they’ve been looking forward to for months.

“Since taking back control of our airport and saving it from closure we’ve been supporting our brilliant local businesses, within days of bringing it back into public ownership we appointed our first local company and we’ve not stopped. This latest work is no different and in the coming weeks we’ll be revealing more information about how they can get involved.”

Hannah Mohammed, Teesside International Airport’s retail and commercial manager, said: “When I first came through the airport doors, when it was serving nearly one million passengers, it was bustling. But then I saw the walls go up on the check-in desks as fewer and fewer people were coming through.

“Despite this, my passion, goals and vision for the airport has never changed and I’m delighted I’m still here to see the walls come back down, areas being brought back to life and a new food, drink and duty free options being opened.

“I know this is the start of something fantastic so people’s holidays can start the second they step into the terminal.”