Newcastle Airport has been named Airport of the Year at the Aviation Industry Awards UK, beating Manchester Airport to the title. The award was voted for by a panel of industry experts, who recognised the airport for its customer service, network growth, infrastructure developments and sustainability achievements.
Record airline investment and new routes
The accolade follows record levels of airline investment during 2025-26, which led to the launch of 22 new routes, including Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon and Nice. EasyJet also opened a new base at the airport and has since more than quadrupled its route network, with flights and package holidays now on sale to 32 destinations.
£60m investment in facilities
The airport has invested nearly £60 million over the past couple of years to enhance its facilities and improve the passenger experience. Central to this programme is a three-storey terminal extension, featuring a larger departure lounge with more seating and additional restroom facilities. An expanded international baggage hall has also been introduced to speed up the arrivals process, and a larger security search area now ensures that 99% of passengers can pass through security in under 10 minutes.
Sustainability and Net Zero goals
Alongside this growth, the airport is making progress toward achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2035. It attained a 100% score in the 2025 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) assessment, ranking first in its sector for carbon reduction, biodiversity and sustainable travel initiatives.
Nick Jones, Chief Executive at Newcastle Airport, said: "We are incredibly proud to have been named Airport of the Year at the Aviation Industry Awards UK." He added that the award recognises a period of significant growth and investment, during which the airport expanded its route network, enhanced its facilities and continued to deliver an award-winning experience for passengers. He credited the hard work and dedication of staff and business partners as the driving force behind the success.
