Newcastle International Airport Eyes European Additions

Opened in 1935, Newcastle International Airport (NCL) is the largest airport in the northeast of England, serving a wider catchment including Cumbria, north Yorkshire, and the south of Scotland. Having experienced a 102% growth on passenger numbers in the last 20 years, the airport welcomed 4.9 million passengers in 2023 and has the potential to serve more than 9 million by 2035.

Recognised for its airline engagement, operational delivery, and comprehensive marketing exposure, NCL was also named Airport of the Year in the Under 5 Million passengers’ category at the Routes Awards 2023 in Istanbul.

The airport now has a network of 80 destinations from 16 airline partners. The majority of routes are point-to-point, but NCL has regular connections to eight hub airports in Europe and the Middle East, including a daily service to Dubai, operated by Emirates.

Recent route successes have included TUI Airways taking off to Sal, Cape Verde, for the first-time last November 2023 and introducing service to Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. Aegean Airlines launched its first direct flight to NCL from Athens in June 2023, Jet2.com took off to Verona for the first time in May, and Aer Lingus began a new Belfast City service in April. Ryanair also opened a base at NCL in 2022, adding 10 new routes to its summer schedule.

Looking ahead to summer 2024, easyJet plans to resume Alicante service in April 2024 after an absence of four years, while Jet2 is introducing flights to Chania, Greece, the following month.

As a member of Routes 360, the only digital platform dedicated to route development, NCL has featured multiple route opportunities on its profile:

Unserved:

• iGA – Istanbul Airport (IST)
• Finavia (HEL)
• Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
• Budapest Airport (BUD)
• Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE)
• Zurich Airport (ZRH)
• Berlin Airport (BER)
• Venezia Airport (VCE)
• Barajas Airport – Madrid (MAD)
• Pisa International Airport (PSA)
• Porto Airport (OPO)
• Lisbon Airport (LIS)
• Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK)
• Copenhagen Airports (CPH)
• Oslo Airport (OSL)
• Munich Airport (MUC)
• Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
• Split Airport (SPU)
• Cork Airport (ORK)

Underserved:

• Genève Airport (GVA)
• Malta Airport (MLA)
• Barcelona – El Prat Airport - (BCN)
• Malaga – Costa del Sol Airport (AGP)
• Alicante Airport (ALC)
• Faro Airport (FAO)
• Keflavík International Airport (KEF)

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