A MAJOR UK airport has finally started it’s multi-million pound expansion project ahead of a number of new budget airline routes being launched.
Newcastle Airport is undergoing a £60million project, which will see it become much bigger.
Newcastle Airport is undergoing a £60million project[/caption]
This includes a larger departures lounge with additional seating areas, toilets and food and drink spots.
There will also be a larger international baggage arrivals area, which will have four belts operating by next summer.
As part of the three-storey terminal expansion, there will be a new security search area too, with extra check-in desks and new self-service bag drop counters.
As a result, the airport has said that it will welcome six million people next year thanks to airlines adding additional flights from the airport.
By 2040, the airport then hopes to welcome nine million passengers a year.
It comes as a number of budget airlines have announced new flights from the airport in recent months.
Most recently, Jet2 announced new flights to Marrakech in Morocco and Budapest in Hungary.
Flights to Budapest – known for sitting on the River Danube and being home to famous thermal baths – will take place every Thursday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, flights to Marrakech – a top winter sun destination with temperatures often exceeding 20C throughout the season – will operate every Tuesday and Friday.
In August, Ryanair also announced that they would base a third aircraft at Newcastle Airport for the winter 2025/2026 season, as well as launching five new winter routes.
The routes include Brussels in Belgium; Budapest in Hungary; Gdansk and Wroclaw in Poland and Malta.
Extra flights were added to its Alicante (Spain), Dublin (Ireland) and Krakow (Poland) routes as well.
Also in August, easyJet added 11 new routes from Newcastle Airport for summer 2026.
The routes include Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey; Rhodes and Corfu in Greece; Faro in Portugal; Malta; Prague in Czech Republic and Reus in Spain.
There is also an exclusive route connecting Newcastle to Nice in France.
EasyJet plans to open a new three-aircraft base at Newcastle Airport in spring next year as well.
The 15-year vision for the airport was announced back in July and aims for the airport to connect the North East to the rest of the world.
It follows a number of budget airlines adding routes from the airport such as Jet2[/caption]
Later stages of the project will include extending the pier to add more than 20 new aircraft stands.
By doing this, aircraft would no longer need to rely as much on stands further away from the terminal that require passengers to be shuttled between their gate and plane.
The airport also hopes to progress proposals of extending the runway.
At the time of the announcement, Nick Jones, chief executive at Newcastle Airport, said: “This Masterplan sets out our bold and ambitious vision for 2040 and paves the way for the future of Newcastle Airport and the North East region.
“Through significant investment in infrastructure, expanding our route network and progressing with our Net Zero ambitions, we are laying the foundations for sustainable growth, while enhancing our economic contribution to the region.”
In other airport news, East Midlands Airport is in talks to increase number of flights and turn itself into ‘major hub’ for holidays to Europe.
Plus, there is a £25billion Heathrow plan that wants to take on ‘world’s best airport’ with sixth new terminal.
The airport aims to see nine million passengers a year by 2040[/caption]
