This Is Tees Valley This Is Tees Valley - Issue 1 2020 | Page 48

TAKE
OFF
Investment and public ownership
breathe new life into Teesside
International Airport
T
served by daily connections to Aberdeen with flybe and
eesside International Airport is taking off, with
Eastern Airways.
new routes, an exciting multimillion-pound
Eastern, operating from the airport for two decades,
development and a huge amount of investment
has recently increased its commitment to Teesside
and backing giving it a brighter future than ever.
International, with the introduction of flights to six
Located in the heart of the Tees Valley, Teesside
new destinations, including the return of daily flights to
International is serving businesses and local people, with
London, reconnecting the region to the capital for the
connections to worldwide locations.
first time in 11 years.
The airport was brought back into public ownership
In a huge vote of confidence in the airport’s future,
and saved from closure in 2019 by the Tees Valley mayor
Eastern Airways has added five new daily routes as
and Combined Authority and an expert in airports and
well as a seasonal service. This
aviation, Stobart Group, was brought
includes daily flights to London City
in as joint-venture partner.
A £200m private
Airport, which serves more than 40
Following the acquisition, the
airport was rebranded back to its
sector investment has destinations across the UK, Europe
much-loved Teesside International
recently been secured and the USA, and is just three miles
from Canary Wharf and six miles from
Airport name, marking a true
at the airport.
the City of London.
turning point. A ten-year rescue
After almost a decade, Dublin
plan to grow the airport and its
flights have returned and there will also be daily
services is now well underway, with a number of major
direct connections to Belfast City Airport, Cardiff and
announcements taking place in the first year of public
Southampton. From May 30 this year, passengers will
ownership.
also be able to fly to the Isle of Man on a seasonal service.
The airport acts as an international gateway to 200
This announcement, which includes 37 new flights
global destinations for business and leisure passengers,
per week, will add 185,000 seats each year, more than
thanks to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ daily connections
doubling the number of available seats. To help ensure
to the award-winning Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
reliability, an engineering base will be created at the
In a further example of the airport’s changing fortunes,
airport to serve the aircraft operating the new Eastern
in September 2019 the airline had its largest passenger
Airways' routes.
numbers in 14 years on the route.
The focus is not only on securing further routes, it
For sunseekers, the airport saw the return of holiday
is also on working in the interests of businesses in the
flights for the first time in five years with Balkan
Tees Valley and those looking to relocate here. Teesside
Holidays, who have committed to a second season in
International is a vital asset in growing the region’s
2020, and the first flights to Spain in seven years, with
economy and creating good quality, well-paid jobs for
JetsGo Holidays.
local people.
The region is a critical player in the North Sea oil,
To ensure this, a £200m private sector investment
gas, offshore and renewables sector and, as such, is also
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