Newcastle International Airport (NCL)

About Newcastle International Airport

Newcastle International Airport is located six miles north of Newcastle city centre, in the county of Tyne & Wear. It is currently the UK’s 10th busiest airport and has recently been named by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as the fastest growing regional airport in the UK. In 2006 the airport handled more than 5.4 million passengers.

Parking at the Airport

There are four parking options at Newcastle International Airport. They are Drop Off/Pick Up, Short Stay, Long Stay, and Meet & Greet parking.
'Drop Off & Pick Up’ parking is situated immediately outside the terminal building, and is used primarily for rapid drop off and pick up of passengers. This facility provides 10 minutes free parking and is recommended for a maximum stay of 30 minutes.
The short stay car parks are situated close to the terminal just outside the entrance to the airport and they offer convenient and secure car parking from a few hours to several days.
The long stay car park is situated on site and offers passengers a quick and convenient parking service with a 24-hour coach transfer direct to the terminal.
Newcastle International Airport’s Meet & Greet parking offers a quick and convenient parking service. Passengers park in Short Stay Car Park 3, just a few metres from the check-in hall. A chauffeur will be waiting to meet you. Whilst away your car will be parked on site in a secure location and will be waiting for you on your return at Short Stay Car Park 3.

Facilities and Services

Newcastle International Airport has services to 90 international scheduled and charter destinations across the world. There is one passenger terminal which has two levels. The upper is used for departures and the lower for arrivals and check-in. Passenger facilities include airport information; baby change facilities; Business Lounges; car hire; Chaplaincy; children’s area; currency exchange; fax; Internet access; left luggage; lost property; prayer room; telephones and facilities for passengers requiring special assistance.
The terminal also offers a fair range of high street retail and catering outlets including Boots; Burger King; Dixons Tax Free; Greggs; Starbucks and WH Smith.
Newcastle International Airport has an executive lounge available for both business and leisure passengers for a small fee. The Cheviot Lounge offers complimentary drinks and snacks and is ideal for business travellers looking for some peace and quiet. The lounge offers both internet and fax facilities and credit card operated telephones. Free entry is available to passengers of certain airlines. There is also a British Airways lounge for exclusive use by their premium passengers.

Getting To The Airport

By road - Newcastle International Airport is located close to the A1. Whichever direction you are coming from, leave the A1 at the A696 and follow the signs to the airport from there. If travelling from Scotland, the A68 connects Edinburgh to the A696.
By rail - For those wishing to travel by train, Newcastle international Airport is a main station for the Metro. The station is linked by a covered walkway directly into the terminal building. Services are provided up to every 7 minutes. The journey takes 23 minutes from Newcastle Central Station, where connections can be made to the national rail network.
By bus/coach - In addition there are regular bus services from Newcastle city centre and Blyth, to the airport terminal or alternatively, National Express runs services runs services from all over the country into Newcastle city centre.

History of Newcastle International Airport

Secretary of State for Air, Sir Phillip Cunliffe-Lister, opened Newcastle Airport 26 July 1935. During the Second World War airport facilities for the region were moved to Cramlington in Northumberland. After the war was over it was decided to focus development on the original airport site. With the start of the ‘package holiday’ boom Newcastle Airport saw its annual passenger numbers boosted to over 5,000 within a few years. At this point destinations included the Isle of Man, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

With the dramatic increase in the package holiday market in the sixties, especially with holidays to Spain, Newcastle was forced to make improvements in order to cope with the increasing demand for air travel. By the end of the decade the airport had a new runway, apron and control tower. In 1978 the Government designated Newcastle a regional international airport. By the end of the 1970s US flights were passing through Newcastle, including jumbo jets.

Still expanding to cope with demand in the 1980s, an £8 million development was instigated at the airport to provide improved check-ins, lounges, catering and duty free facilities. By the end of the decade annual passenger numbers had reached about 1.24 million. The extended and improved terminal building was completed and was officially opened in 1994 by the Princess Royal.

In 2000 a new £27 million extension was opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair and the first low cost airline arrived at the airport, with Go-Fly commencing a service to London Stansted. The new Newcastle International Airport was launched in October 2003. A new brand with extra capacity, new routes and airlines like easyJet and multi-million pound developments were all announced. Annual passenger figures reached 3.9 million. Summer 2004 saw the opening by Ant and Dec of the new terminal extension and redevelopment. The departure lounge was doubled in size and a wider range of shops, services, restaurants and cafes opened. Newcastle International was the fastest growing regional airport in the UK in 2005 as passenger figures topped 5 million per year.