Airport gears up for busiest summer on record

A North East transport hub is preparing for its busiest summer on record.

Newcastle International Airport expects more than 1.4 million passengers to travel through its terminal during the school holidays.

The figure represents an increase of almost ten per cent on last summer, with more than 4000 flights scheduled to depart over the holiday period.

Popular sunshine destinations including Alicante, Antalya, Ibiza and Palma are expected to be among the airport’s busiest routes, while demand is also expected to be high for European city breaks to Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagenand Paris.

The record summer follows continued investment from airline partners.

easyJet, which opened a new base at the airport earlier this year, is operating flights to 21 destinations and will launch new services to Prague, Reus, Sharm El Sheikh and Tenerife in August.

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

The airport has also invested almost £60 million in its facilities over the past two years, including a new terminal extension, an expanded security search area and a larger international baggage hall, as it prepares to accommodate record passenger numbers while maintaining short waiting times.

Nick Jones, chief executive at Newcastle Airport, 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 North East'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.” 

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