Newcastle Flights, Holidays and Travel info

Newcastle, UK, is well served by a modern international airport and many flights every day and it is connected to European and worldwide destinations by many of the major airlines and charter flight operators. The airport has convenient transport links and the airport code is NCL

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About the Airport

Although Newcastle airport was first opened in 1935 with facilities about as basic as you could get - a grass runway and oily rags burning in empty drums to provide landing lights - today it has become one of the UK's more significant and successful airports. During the Second World War it was taken over as an auxiliary base for the RAF. In the 1950s when package holidays were introduced and foreign holidays came within the reach of more and more people, Newcastle airport became involved and passenger numbers were totalling around 5,500 annually, by 1954. The 1960s saw the airport's importance, as a cog in the region's development potential, recognised and a new terminal was constructed and opened in early 1967. The holiday industry, transporting passengers to foreign sand, sea and sunshine, boomed and, along with it, Newcatle Airport as passenger numbers multiplied steadily. In 1978 the airport was given the official status of a regional international airport with the intention to deliver short and medium-haul scheduled international flights. There was need for another, bigger and better terminal building which was constructed in the early '80s as the airport passed the 1 million mark of passengers each year. By the end of the '80s this figure was up over 50%. The airport received a welcome boost in 1991 when the Metro system was extended to link the airport to the city. The airport was going from strength to strength and in 1993 the 2 million passengers a year mark had been reached, meaning the terminal had to be extended and improved yet again, and this was officially opened in 1994.

As Newcastle Airport entered the third millennium, and with the annual passenger figures now topping 3 million, the terminal buildings were extended and improved yet again and opened in 2000. And it was to get even better as, in 2003, easyJet arrived at the airport, bringing with it the budget holidays that people were coming to demand and, later the same year new investment, branding and additional routes were all announced. The following year, in 2004, the terminal was extended still further with more and better facilities being added with restaurants, bars, shops, and the departure lounge doubled in size. The following year passenger numbers were still soaring and the 5 million mark was reached and still growing. Newcastle is now dipping its toe in the long-haul market and introduced flights to Dubai. The sky appears to be, literally, the limit as far as Newcastle airport's development is concerned as more and more improvements and technological advances are incorporated into the airport's infrastructure. In one way, though, the aiport appears to have come full circle as the original airport terminal, from the 1930s, came back into its ownership. Long neglected, it's hoped that, restored to it's former state, like an old and much loved relative, it will have a new role as a visitor centre, keeping watch over the airfield. What tales it could tell!

For comprehensive info you may wish to check out the official Newcastle Airport website.

Places of Interest

One of Newcastle Airport's biggest assets has got to be that it is situated in such a vigorous city and so close to staggeringly beautiful scenery absolutely alive with the heritage and history of the region. If your trip allows for a few days stopover in this area then take full advantage of everything there is to see; the only difficulty will be in knowing where to start. The region is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, Hadrian's Wall and Durham Castle and Cathedral. The cathedral, dating back to late 11th century Norman times is truly magnificent. It was considered, by UNESCO, to be 'the largest and most perfect monument of Norman Style architecture in England.' The Castle, which was built at the same time, is now part of Durham University and, as such, is not generally open to the public except on guided tours. It has been in continuous occupation for almost a thousand years, not a claim that many buildings can make. Durham City is compact, tiny even, but the sense of history in its narrow streets, old buildings and winding river is enormous.

Hadrian's Wall, stretching across the width of Britain and defining the Roman Empire's northern boundary can still be seen, visited and walked along. A significant section of the wall still exists and dotted along it are the excavated remains of some of the regularly spaced Roman Forts. A few miles to the north, and just off the Northumberland coast, is Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, with its ruined Priory and 16th century castle built using stones from the Priory. Not far from Lindisfarne, and dominating the coastline, is Bamburgh Castle. There are miles and miles of quiet, beautifully sandy beaches; there is the rugged beauty of the Northumberland National Park to explore; there are dozens of small towns and villages all with their own stories to tell. The spectacular Alnwick Garden is a stunning combination of architectural designs, water features and themed gardens. Nearby is Alnwick Castle, home to the Percy family, Dukes and Earls of Northumberland since 1309, the grounds of which were landscaped by Capability Brown. The castle is featured in the 'Harry Potter' films, as 'Hogwarts' School.

Back to the cities and towns which also have so much to offer and you'll find the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, the world's first tilting bridge which spans the River Tyne and links Newcastle with Gateshead. The bridge, with its innovative design is a thing of wonder and beauty. It's here, on the regenerated Gateshead Quays that you'll find the BALTIC, the Centre for Contemporary Art which is a prestigious centre for international contemporary art. It is housed in the former Baltic Flour Mills. Also here, on the Quays, is The Sage, an architecturally spectacular and innovative 21st century building, dedicated to music and music making, with a 1,650 seat concert hall.

Transport Links

The airport is easy to access from all points of the compass. The north-south A1/M1 skirts the city centre and, leaving it to follow the A596, the airport is about 5 miles from the centre of Newcastle. Carlisle, in the west, is less than an hour and a half's drive away along the A69. Edinburgh, Leeds, Darlington and York are no more than a couple of hour's drive, away.

From Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and numerous other local stations, passengers heading for the airport can take the Metro which will carry you straight to the airport. From Newcastle centre the journey is approximately half an hour with frequent trains from early morning to late at night. From Sunderland the journey is about an hour.

If you're travelling to Newcastle Airport by train you will find a Metro Station at Newcastle Central Railway Station which will take you directly to the airport. Trains from Middlesborough, York, Leeds and Edinborough will all get you to Newcastle in 2 hours or less.

Local bus services have some routes that take in the airport but may not always run on Sundays so check details if planning to use a bus.

Coaches run from most major towns and cities into Newcastle.

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