Newcastle Airport is set for its busiest summer on record, with more than 1.4 million passengers expected to travel through the terminal – almost 10% more than last year.
More than 4,000 flights are scheduled to depart over the summer school holiday period, connecting the North East to some of the world's most popular destinations.
Sun-soaked favourites, including Alicante, Antalya, Ibiza and Palma, are set to be among the busiest routes, while popular European city-break destinations such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen and Paris will be in high demand.
The Airport's multiple daily flights to major international hubs will also provide passengers with seamless onward connections to destinations around the world, including Bali, New York, Singapore, Thailand and Tokyo.
The record-breaking summer is being driven by continued investment from airline partners, with easyJet operating flights to 21 destinations, including Lisbon and Nice, following the opening of its new base at the Airport earlier this year.
In August, the airline will launch a further four new services to Prague, Reus, Sharm El Sheikh and Tenerife, giving passengers even more choice for their summer holidays.
Jet2 has also expanded its offering with new routes to Porto, Preveza and Palermo, while Ryanair has added Budapest, Malta and Marrakech to its network.
To support the growth in passenger numbers, the Airport has invested almost £60 million over the last couple of years in its facilities to further enhance the customer experience.
Central to this investment is a three-storey terminal extension, which will create a larger departure lounge with additional seating and toilet facilities.
An extended security search area will operate during peak periods, helping to ensure 99% of passengers continue to pass through security in under 10 minutes.
The international baggage hall is also being expanded, with five baggage belts operating this summer to make the arrivals process quicker for passengers.
Nick Jones, Chief Executive at Newcastle Airport, said: “Welcoming more than 1.4 million passengers this summer will be a record-breaking achievement for Newcastle Airport and reinforces our position as the North East's gateway to the world.
“Demand for travel has never been stronger, with passengers benefiting from more destinations and increased capacity across our network than ever before, thanks to the continued investment from our airline partners.
“As we prepare for our busiest summer, we have invested almost £60 million over the last couple of years in our facilities to ensure passengers continue to enjoy a world-class experience and to support the growing demand we expect to see in the years ahead.”