Newcastle Airport History

Newcastle airport is now among the busiest airports in the north of England. But in 1935, when it first opened, it consisted of little more than a grass runway, a clubhouse, a hanger, a workshop and a garage. So how did Newcastle Airport develop from this humble space into the international travel centre that it is today?

Before the war

Newcastle Airport originally cost £35,000 to build. The first scheduled service to stop there was a flight between Croydon and Perth in Scotland. The only guiding lights available to aircraft at the time were a series of oil drums, with rags attached, that could be lit to give planes some guidance.

The Second World War and beyond

Newcastle Airport was handed to the RAF during the Second World War, and used as a wartime base. In 1946 it was handed back to the council with a new wooden air traffic control tower, which was built on stilts, and supported by railway lines.

New routes were added to Newcastle Airport’s list of destinations in the 1950s. Flights took off to Dublin, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf. This decade saw the rise of package holidays and Newcastle Airport benefitted from this boom. By 1954, passenger numbers had risen to around 5,500 every year.

The 1960s and 1970s

The fundamental nature of Newcastle Airport changed in the 1960s, when a new North East Regional Airport Committee was formed, comprising of several regional authorities. A new terminal was constructed, and officially opened by then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Passenger numbers continued to rise. In the late 1970s a massive expansion plan, which would cost £8 million, was drawn up for the airport. It included a 4,000 square metre terminal expansion, a new passenger pier and an airside departure lounge.

Recent developments

By 2000 passenger figures had reached around 3 million per year. A new £27 million terminal extension was officially opened by Tony Blair in October 2000. Parking facilities at the airport continued to advance. Today Newcastle airport parking options like Airparks Newcastle Bellair and Newcastle On-Airport Parking ensure that travellers can leave and arrive in comfort and safety. The Newcastle Airport Meet and Greet also allows passengers be met by a chauffeur on both their departure and arrival date.