Newcastle history
The Airport’s origins date from 1929 when the idea of an airport at Newcastle was prompted by an Air Ministry keen to encourage the growth of an aviation industry in Britain.
In 1931, Woolsington was chosen as a location and a terminal and hangar were constructed to the south of the airfield.
By 1935, the Airport was fully operational and continued until the war, when it became an RAF station.
During the 1950s and 1960s, growth occurred with the arrival of Hunting Air Transport, which introduced newer aircraft along with scheduled services from Newcastle to London, Belfast, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf.
Passenger numbers increased from approximately 5,000 in 1953 to more than 119,000 in 1960.
In 1967 the new Newcastle International Airport was officially opened, including a new terminal and an upgraded runway, control building and car parking area.
By 1970, passenger numbers reached 400,000.
To meet the new demand a further terminal extension was called for and was opened in 1982.
In the early 1990s, more extensions were completed, and a purpose-built Freight Village was built to the south of the runway to cope with demand from freight operators.
Newcastle International published its first Masterplan, a guide to development, in 1995.
Tony Blair, the Prime Minister opened the newly enlarged terminal building in 2000.
The terminal expansion was supported by a new road links and 2,200 new long-stay car park.
3.4 million passengers were handled during 2002.
