14.01.2005
Low-cost boom at Newcastle

With more than 765,000 more low-cost passengers and eight new low-cost routes, Newcastle International Airport, which is partially owned by Copenhagen Airports A/S, can look back at a successful year in the market for low-cost traffic.

In 2004, the number of low-cost passengers out of Newcastle was more than half a million higher than in 2003, rising from 351,535 passengers to 883,150 passengers, equal to a 151% increase. Moreover, the number of low-cost passengers was 49% or 230,000 higher than in 2003.

Low-cost market has grown

“The low-cost success at Newcastle was achieved through a combination of good sales work, expansion by the low-cost carriers and general economic growth in the region. The number of people who can afford to travel has increased dramatically, and new low-cost destinations have helped increase the airport’s market so that people from as far away as Scotland now fly out of Newcastle,” says Michael Johansson, project manager at Copenhagen Airports’ international department, which is as an advisor to Newcastle International Airport.

The strong growth in low-cost routes moved a small number of passengers from the traditional international routes, which saw a decline by 38,676 passengers, whilst the number of charter passengers grew by 76,000, equal to a 5% increase over the 2003 level. The number of domestic passengers on the traditional routes was almost unchanged and rose by only 1%.

More low-cost routes in 2005

In the course of 2004, Newcastle International Airport got eight new low-cost routes, six of which were EasyJet routes to international destinations (Berlin, Budapest, Geneva, Nice, Palma and Rome), one new Hapaq-Lloyd Express route to Hannover, whilst Flybe opened one new domestic route to Exeter. This year will also see new destinations. In February 2005, Ryanair opens a new route to Milan/Bergamo, and in March Hapaq-Lloyd Express opens two new routes to Munich and Cologne/Bonn, and EUJet will open a new domestic route to Kent.

“The airport has worked very proactively to attract new low-cost carriers, and the carriers have been on the lookout for new markets,” comments Michael Johansson, who looks forward to seeing further growth in low-cost traffic at Newcastle this year. “We are expecting to see both new destinations and additional frequencies on the existing low-cost routes in 2005,” says Johansson.

Passenger record in 2004

Newcastle International Airport is the ninth largest airport in the UK and the fastest growing airport of the country’s 15 largest airports. In 2004, Newcastle International Airport had a record-high number of passengers: 4.7 million, up from 3.9 million in 2003, equal to 21% growth. In 2002, the total number of passengers was 3.4 million.

Since 4 May 2001, Copenhagen Airports has owned 49% of the shares in Newcastle International Airport and operates a so-called Public Private Partnership with the airport. The other shareholders are seven north-English local authorities organised in a holding company: Newcastle Airport Local Authority Holding Company Limited. Together, the two principal shareholders have formed the company NIAL Holdings Plc.

 Traffic Statistics 2004