Construction work to start on new hanger at Teesside International Airport

Construction work on a key expansion of Teesside International Airport is to start after plans for a major new hangar were approved.

The 27,000sq ft structure is the first of two new hangars which will provide a key development to attract further investment and return the airport to profit.

Darlington Borough Council has now granted planning approval for both hangars, subject to conditions.

Barnard Castle-based S&A Fabrications will begin work on the giant hangar on the northside of the airport after securing the contract for the project earlier this year. Work is expected to take around six to eight months.

The hangar will be 44 metres wide and 57 metres long and reach up to 16.5 metres at its highest point. When completed it will provide additional space for aircraft storage and maintenance.

More than 230 tonnes of steel will be used in its construction and the development will also include car parking and a concrete apron to access the hangar from the taxiway.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It fantastic to be moving this project forward at such speed and delivering on our aim of providing a great new location for firms to grow.

Teesside Airport has seen its busiest month for more than a decade.

Teesside Airport has seen its busiest month for more than a decade,  June saw a total of 25,666 passengers pass through the terminal – the highest figure since September 2010.

July was also a bumper month at the regional UK airport with 24,781 people choosing to fly to or from Teesside.

An enhanced package of holiday flights has bolstered the airport’s summer programme. Hundreds of families have jetted off for some much-needed sun with the airport enjoying its busiest day since returning to public ownership in late July.  It means Teesside is on course to record its highest annual passenger numbers since 2011.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “These figures show we are well and truly heading in the right direction when it comes to making our airport a success.  “But we know there is still a very long way to go. Breaching the 25,000 figure is good, but we have ambitions to be hitting that every single week.

The people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have supported us – and we couldn’t have achieved what we have without them.

Our airport is a sleeping giant awaking from its slumber. We know what people are crying out for, and we will continue to strain every sinew to attract new holiday flights and routes.

Our new business park, freight facility and Freeport status will all have their roles to play in returning our airport to profit. The ten-year plan is working and we’ve an exciting future ahead.”

Holiday hotspots with airline Ryanair to Alicante, Faro in Portugal, Majorca, and Corfu have proved popular.

TUI has also expanded its offering from Teesside this year, with twice-weekly flights to Majorca thanks to the popularity of the route last year and a service to Antalya, Turkey.

Loganair axing routes from Teesside as increasing fuel prices and high fees at Heathrow begin to bite....

The UK regional airline Loganair is axing some routes from Teesside Airport as an increase in fuel prices begins to eat into the profitability of flights. 

There has been a significant increase in London Heathrow’s take-off and landing fees which has led to a significant increase in costs. Loganair says that this, coupled with global oil prices affecting the cost of aviation fuel, means that the London Heathrow route from Teesside has become unviable and will end in two weeks.

The Teesside to Southampton service will also stop as a result of the cessation of the London service as it cannot be accommodated on the remaining Loganair aircraft.

Kay Ryan, Chief Commercial Officer for Loganair, said: "I am extremely disappointed that Loganair will no longer provide a London Heathrow service due to rising costs, and completely understand the decision taken for all the reasons outlined. Customers affected by the cancellation will receive either an alternative routing if applicable or a refund should they prefer that option."

Phil Forster, Managing Director of Teesside International Airport, said: "I’d like to thank all of our loyal passengers who have been supporting this service since its launch and apologise for the inconvenience this will cause. Rising costs across the industry have meant that the route is no longer viable and not something we could support without passing that on to our passengers."

Passengers booked to travel to Southampton will be offered alternative flights or a full refund.

Passengers booked to travel to London Heathrow will be offered a full refund.

 

Use the voucher code MAY22FREE to get free delivery in May from Help for Heroes.

 Apply the code at the checkout for UK standard delivery. 

not applicable to international or next day delivery.

Want me in your inbox? Follow here for email updates Air101 here.