Airport celebrates milestone anniversary

A North East transport hub is marking a major milestone with a regional celebration of its history.

Newcastle International Airport has launched a year-long programme to commemorate its 90th birthday, starting with an exhibition in its terminal that charts its journey from a single hangar in 1935 to becoming an award-winning regional airport that last year was crowned ‘best in the world’.

The display includes key moments from the airport’s past, including its role training pilots in World War Two and a presidential visit from Jimmy Carter in 1977, as well as vintage cabin crew uniforms, artefacts and even a commemorative plaque featuring Ant and Dec’s handprints (see below), which was unveiled during the terminal extension in 2004.

Alice Andreasen, chief corporate affairs officer at Newcastle International Airport, said: “Celebrating 90 years is a proud milestone for everyone at Newcastle Airport. 

“The exhibition gives a fascinating insight into how far we’ve come – from our first eight-seater aircraft flying to and from London, to welcoming 5.2 million passengers last year and offering direct flights to over 80 destinations and more than 300 onward connections worldwide. 

“As our passenger numbers and route network have grown, so too has our impact on the region. 

“We’re proud to contribute more than £1 billion annually to the North East’s economy and be one of the region’s largest employers, with more than 3200 staff working on the airport site. 

“This exhibition is just the beginning of our 90th anniversary celebrations and we are excited to mark this major milestone with our passengers, partners and local communities.” 

The terminal display will remain in place throughout the year, leading up to the official birthday on July 26. 

A second exhibition will open at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum in late July, before moving to the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, followed by The Word, in South Shields, from September. 

Keith Merrin, director of North East Museums, added: “It’s exciting that North East Museums is playing a part in the celebration of this important regional milestone by helping create this exhibition. 

“Newcastle Airport has made such a significant positive impact on the North East.  

“We’re proud to showcase innovation and the resilient spirit of the region in our museums, and Newcastle Airport has been a large part of that story. 

“I’m sure visitors to the exhibition will be fascinated.” 

A dedicated website has also been launched, celebrating the airport’s people, progress and place in North East history.

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