UK airport in £60m upgrade for new Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 flights | UK | News
A major UK airport is set to launch a £60 million expansion project to prepare for the launch of new budget airline routes. This development aims to improve facilities and increase capacity, paving the way for upcoming flights from carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.
Newcastle Airport is to undergo an expansion project that includes a large departure lounge with additional seating, toilets and food and beverage outlets. The airport’s plan includes a larger international baggage arrival area with four lanes to be in use by next summer. According to reports, the new three-storey terminal will also feature an upgraded security search zone, more check-in desks and self-service baggage drop counters to improve passenger flow. Sun.
The airport’s 15-year plan, announced in July, aims to better connect the North East to global destinations. Future phases will include expanding the pier to add more than 20 new aircraft stands, reducing the need for remote stands requiring shuttle transport for passengers. The airport also plans to move forward with proposals to extend the runway.
This comes after several budget airlines recently announced new flights from Newcastle Airport. Jet2 is launching flights to Marrakech and Budapest, with flights to Budapest on Thursdays and Sundays and Marrakech on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Ryanair will deploy a third aircraft to the airport in winter 2025/2026, adding five new routes including Brussels, Budapest, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Malta, as well as extra flights to Alicante, Dublin and Krakow.
EasyJet is also expanding by offering 11 new summer 2026 routes to destinations including Türkiye, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Prague, Reus and a dedicated connection to Nice, France. The airline will open a new base of three aircraft at the airport next spring.
At the time of the announcement, Newcastle Airport CEO Nick Jones said: “This masterplan sets out our bold and ambitious vision for 2040 and paves the way for the future of Newcastle Airport and the North East region.
“By making significant investments in infrastructure, expanding our route network and progressing towards our Net Zero targets, we are laying the foundations for sustainable growth while increasing our economic contribution to the region.”
