Newcastle Airport Wins Routes World 2024 Honors
Newcastle International Airport (NCL) continues to soar with impressive achievements, recently clinching top awards at Routes World 2024. Recognized for its commitment to expanding connectivity, enhancing passenger experiences, and fostering sustainability, NCL was honored as the winner in the “Under 5 Million Passengers” category and also received the prestigious “Overall Winner” title. These accolades underscore NCL’s role as a leading aviation hub in the UK, connecting the northeast of England to over 80 destinations through partnerships with 16 airlines.
Expanding Routes and Airline Partnerships
Newcastle International has seen a year of robust route expansions and new partnerships, contributing to a projected post-COVID recovery by the end of 2024. Growth is expected to continue into 2025, with an additional 11% increase in passenger traffic. TUI, a key airline partner, expanded its NCL base by adding a fifth aircraft and launching new flights to Cape Verde. Meanwhile, SunExpress introduced a new route to Dalaman and increased service to Antalya for summer 2025, strengthening NCL’s popular leisure travel options.
Ryanair added more international connectivity with a twice-weekly service to Marrakech, bringing its total destinations from Newcastle to 18. EasyJet has also been instrumental in expanding access to Europe, introducing a twice-weekly Amsterdam route that will operate daily from October, along with a new route to Paris, targeting popular destinations like Disneyland. In January 2025, EasyJet will add a weekly service to Lyon to cater to the winter ski market in France.
Jet2.com is set for significant growth at NCL as well, with a ninth aircraft scheduled for 2026. The airline’s upcoming summer program will add new routes to destinations such as Porto, Preveza, Agadir, and Barcelona, contributing an additional 1.3 million seats and boosting capacity by 11% for summer 2025.
Commitment to Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability
NCL’s focus on operational excellence and customer satisfaction has been strengthened by recent infrastructure and technological investments. The airport recently completed a $25.9 million terminal refurbishment that enhanced security, added an executive lounge, and expanded dining options. Sustainability is also a top priority, with NCL becoming the first UK airport to establish an on-site solar farm, capable of generating sufficient electricity on sunny days. In addition, NCL has introduced electric buses to support its net-zero emissions target by 2035.
Leon McQuaid, NCL’s Director of Aviation Development, emphasizes the airport’s data-driven approach to identifying profitable new routes. “We use complex data analysis to review origin and destination traffic and leakage statistics, helping us identify unserved routes that offer potential for our airline partners,” McQuaid stated.
Award-Winning Excellence
The achievements at Routes World 2024 highlight Newcastle International’s progress and commitment to the aviation industry. McQuaid expressed gratitude, saying, “To be nominated by our airline partners is fantastic; winning our category was already a huge honor, and to receive the Overall Winner title was simply incredible. We owe it to our airline partners and the dedicated team back in Newcastle.”
Beyond its Routes World success, NCL was also named the “UK and Ireland Airport of the Year” at the 2024 Travel Industry Awards, reflecting its dedication to growth, innovation, and passenger satisfaction.
With continued route expansion, state-of-the-art facilities, and a solid commitment to sustainability, Newcastle International Airport is poised to remain a prominent player in UK aviation, driving both local and international connectivity.
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