Newcastle International Airport

[Newcastle Guy]

Newcastle International airport is currently the 10th busiest airport in Britain, and is one of the fastest growing. In 2007 the airport had 5.6m passangers, more than double the passangers from 1997.


Year Number of Passengers
1997 2,592,000
1998 2,920,000
1999 2,934,000
2000 3,147,000
2001 3,376,358
2002 3,387,222
2003 3,903,340
2004 4,707,818
2005 5,187,182
2006 5,431,976
2007 5,623,765



A new air traffic control tower was completed last year:



Designed by REID architects, the control tower is the most advanced in the country. It was named the Emirates Tower, due to the sponsorhip recieved from Emirates Airlines.

REID Architects also designed the new Edinburgh control tower:



Future plans from Wikipedia:

"The Airport recently published a Master Plan that set out development proposals for the airport until 2016. In the near term, these include building a multi-storey car park to replace the current short-stay parking, a new 187-bedroom on-site hotel and the expansion of the freight facilities on the south side of the airport."

Feasability studies are being carried out to evalute longer term proposals, such as converting the junction with the A696 into a grade-separated junction to cater for the expected increase in traffic levels, the building of a heavy rail link to connect the airport with the National Rail network, and extending the runway at the eastern end.

New attractions in Newcastle and near by such as the completion of the Quayside, the Newcastle Great Park development, continuing regenration of the town centre and Science Central mean more and more passangers are likely to use the airport in the future and it's growth should continue.

Recent long haul flights include the Carribean and Mexico, and Emirates recently celebrated their 100,000th passenger at the airport.

From Flickr:
image hosted on flickr


The most recent diagrams from the official website show plans to extend the runway and to increase the size of the terminal by 2011.

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[samsonyuen]

Good news! The control tower looks like a great design.

[Erebus555]

Yeh, great news and that control tower is a beast.

[Newcastle Guy]

It shares it's design with the new Edinburgh control tower by REID, though theirs is 57m and ours is only 45m. Here is a picture of Edinbugh's tower:



It gives a good idea of how Newcastle's will look

[johnnypd]

from the chronic:

Jobs soar at airport

Oct 30 2006

By Peter Taylor, The Evening Chronicle


Booming Newcastle International Airport is creating more jobs. Plans for a new office development south of the main airport runway were revealed today.

The move is part of plans to double the capacity of the airport - one of the fastest growing in Europe.

A planning application for the latest development has been lodged with the city council by the airport and UK Land Estates.

The scheme involves building a new three-storey office block - with 78 car park spaces - which will employ around 170 people.

An empty site south of the airport bounded by the runway, Woolsington Park and the existing freight village is earmarked for the scheme.

At one time there were houses on the site and more recently it was used as a building compound during a major work on the runway apron.

The airport handled 5.3 million passengers last year and if the predicted growth continues this will rise to around 10 million by 2016 and 15 million by 2030.

At present, the airport employs just under 3,000 people but that is set to double by 2016.

"New routes are being added on almost a monthly basis, connecting Newcastle with further European destinations," says the planning submission.

"The airport has the potential to offer the region not only a transport hub but a genuine dynamo of regional economic growth.

"As a result, the areas around the airport have become attractive locations for further commercial development.

"The airport currently has an under-supply of airport-related accommodation on the site.

"Virtually all of the office accommodation on the airport site is occupied and the airport requires further room for expansion."

Future plans for the 80-acre southern end of the airport include extending the apron as demand increases and large-scale freight or maintenance operations.

The airport, which started in 1935 with a grass runway, club house and hangar, is now one of the region's biggest success stories.

Since the boom in sunshine holidays in the 1960s Newcastle has gone from strength to strength.

A new terminal opened two years ago and plans include investing £70m over the next 10 years.

[Newcastle Guy]

Thanks Johnny! Great Article!

Going on new statistics, I worked out the airport is up 170,000 passangers so far compared to last year, with 2 months left to go.

I hope we get a new terminal by 2020. Especially if capacity has doubled.

[johnnypd]

good news, flybe might be expanding operations at Newcastle:

Flight jobs boost

Nov 6 2006

By Nick Whitten, The Evening Chronicle


Flybe plans to introduce four new aircraft to be based at Newcastle Airport

Hundreds of jobs could be created on Tyneside following a major airline takeover.

Flybe unveiled plans to offer up to 600 jobs in Newcastle after announcing it had agreed a takeover of British Airways’ regional airline, BA Connect, yesterday.

The airline’s chiefs are in advanced talks to place four new aircraft at Newcastle International Airport, adding more domestic and European routes.

Flybe’s plans include introduc ing four 80-seater Bombardier Q400 aircraft, creating 130 jobs directly as well as supporting a further 470 jobs.

The airline’s chief commercial officer, Mike Rutter, said: "We currently serve 400,000 passen gers in Newcastle. We’re hoping to push that past a million if these plans come to fruition."

According to Flybe bosses, discussions should be done and dusted within the next two weeks with the new services up and running by next summer.

They are aiming to add more domestic routes to the likes of Belfast, Birmingham, Southampton and Inverness.

They also want to add services to several main cities in Europe, including the Danish capital Copenhagen and several under-served business centres in Germany, such as Stuttgart, Dussel dorf and Frankfurt.

Mr Rutter added: "We have a good relationship with Newcastle Airport and we’re now looking to more than double our business there.

"Our plans will create 600 jobs directly and indirectly.

"As someone who was born, bred and educated in the North East it would be great to create a major operation in Newcastle.

"That would fulfil a lifetime’s ambition for me."

Flybe’s takeover of BA Connect, subject to the completion of financial checks, makes it the largest regional airline in Europe.

The proposed acquisition will create an enlarged business with over £600m in revenues and car rying nearly 10 million passengers.

Jim French, chairman and chief executive of Flybe, said: "We’re committed to serving Newcastle, as our continued investment and growth in the region demonstrates.

"Through this acquisition we’re seeking to build a bigger, stronger and even more defensible Flybe.

"This will allow further opportunities to develop routes, encourage further business to the area and see the Newcastle hub go from strength to strength.

"The Flybe business model concentrates on domestic and European city markets and has been incredibly successful over the last four years. This acquisition will allow us to bring our growth plans forward by two years.

"The new enlarged Flybe should provide strong employ ment prospects for operational staff in BA Connect.

"This acquisition will make Fly be the largest regional airline in Europe and one of the largest in the UK by any measurement.

"Across Europe more consumers will benefit from Flybe’s efficient and friendly service at a price which provides outstanding value."

[Newcastle Guy]

Thanks Johnny.

The airline’s chief commercial officer, Mike Rutter, said: "We currently serve 400,000 passen gers in Newcastle. We’re hoping to push that past a million if these plans come to fruition."

If this happens, then it alone could push Newcastle up to 6,000,000!

[JGG]

How come Edinburgh and Newcastle can have such great control towers when Heathrow T5 gets the most lousy design of a tower needing to be held up by some steel cables, designed by "Tesco & Co" Foster?

[Newcastle Guy]

Atleast Heathrow are getting some modern terminals though, Newcastle's is outdated apart from the recent extension. If they do plan to go to triple capacity of ncl by 2030 then they are going to have to build a new terminal.

Older part of the terminal:




The extension:

[Newcastle Guy]

Latest figures including November:

In 2005, the airport handled 5,187,000 passengers

In 2006 upto end November, the airport handled 5,372,000 passengers, 185,000 more

[chrismet5]

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[Newcastle Guy]

Thanks for posting

[SmartCity]

Originally Posted by chrismet5

Not too bad considering some of the pax lost because of EZY.

Tower's coming along nicely too:

......can we have one at LBA please!!

[Frog]

http://www.newcastleairport.com/Gene...nce_dubai_.htm

Just saw this. It's official, new Emirates service to Dubai

[Prestonian]

Originally Posted by Frog

http://www.newcastleairport.com/Gene...nce_dubai_.htm

Just saw this. It's official, new Emirates service to Dubai

Amazing, what a superb addition. This really does open up the whole eastern market, plenty of onward conecting Chinese students could route through Dubai and there will be plenty of people who could use it for business instead of trolling over to Manchester or down to Heathrow.

[johnnypd]

that's a big coup for NCL.
as reported by the Evening Chronicle:

Arabian Flights

Jan 10 2007

By Paul McMillan, The Evening Chronicle


Emirates who are due to fly from Newcastle Airport

North East travellers will be able to jet off to the Middle East and beyond as Emirates airline touches down in Newcastle.

The airline, one of the world's leading carriers, is starting daily long-haul flights from Tyneside to Dubai on September 1, the first scheduled long-haul flight to operate from Newcastle Airport.

It is expected to revolutionise air travel for North East passengers by offering a hassle-free gateway to 80 long haul destinations in the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent having previously had to catch a connecting flight to London or start from another UK airport.

The new route is also expected to generate many new jobs at Newcastle Airport and throughout the region.

Emirates will directly employ up to 15 people at Newcastle International Airport, and it is anticipated it will also result indirectly in the creation of scores of new positions at support services companies such as ground handling and catering.

Although once seen as a playground for the rich, Dubai is becoming an increasing attractive holiday destination for couples and families as the cost of travel comes down. Vic Sheppard, Emirates' vice president for the UK and Ireland, said: "This new service will provide the North East with direct and convenient access to Dubai and onwards to destinations across the globe.

"No longer will travellers and cargo shippers from the North East face the unnecessary delay of connecting on to flights via London or points in mainland Europe.

"We firmly believe there is a significant potential market for Emirates in the North East, one that currently remains largely untapped, and believe this new route will prove hugely successful for both Emirates and the North East. With the involvement of the local community, it has the potential to boost inbound trade and tourism, while also helping to foster strong trade and tourism links between the North East, Dubai and other destinations we serve."

The announcement has been seen as a coup for the airport and puts Newcastle on the global map.

John Parkin, chief executive of Newcastle International Airport, says: "We are delighted that Emirates has shown such a huge vote of confidence in the region and Newcastle International Airport by introducing daily services to Dubai. Newcastle can now offer its customers direct services to one of the most important destinations in the world and an enormous choice of destinations beyond."

Business leaders have greeted the news with enthusiasm and hope it will lead to the North East forging greater links with the Middle East.

A spokesman for the North East Chamber of Commerce said: "Newcastle Airport is making tremendous efforts to increase the amount of passengers it carries and also the number of destinations it carries to.

"It's testament to all the hard work they have been doing there. From a business point of view I would have thought a route to Dubai would be extremely popular."

Budget airline easyJet is also adding another Eastern European destination to its Newcastle schedule. From March 30, passengers will be able to fly four times a week to Krakow, Poland, from £21.99 one-way. The Polish city is already served from Newcastle by rival airline Jet2.com.

[chrismet5]

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[Newcastle Guy]

This is great news. From what I have seen on the site the airport had a very poor December, pushing numbers RIGHT down.

Hopefully new services to Dubai, and soon beyond, will vastly improve passanger numbers.

[johnnypd]

is that because of the weather issues Newcastle Guy? i seem to remember a week where all the domestic flights were screwed, so that could explain it.