A major UK airport will welcome a record six million passengers next year after airlines signed up to add new destinations and increase flight numbers. Newcastle Airport has made announcements in recent months on new services from budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair, adding flights to places including Nice, Brussels and Malta.

To cope with the new passenger numbers, the airport is investing £60m this year and next to upgrade and expand facilities. Work is under way on a three-storey terminalextension that will create a larger departure lounge and international baggage hall.

The departure lounge extension will deliver additional seating for passengers and there will also be space for more toilets and new food and drink outlets. The international baggage arrivals area will see a 60% increase in capacity and four baggage belts will operate next summer.

Extra check-in desks and new self-service bag drop machines will be installed and a new security search area will also open as the airport aims to maintain its current levels of 99% of passengers passing through security in less than 10 minutes. Close to the airport, work is also progressing on an extension to the car park at Callerton Parkway.

Electric vehicle charging company Fastned is building an 12-bay EV charging hub at the site, while the development will also include a drive-thru cafe.

Airport chief executive Nick Jones said: "2026 will be a landmark year for Newcastle Airport as we prepare to welcome a record six million passengers.

"This milestone reflects the growing demand for global connectivity from the North East and will be made possible thanks to significant investment from our airline partners, providing even more flights and package holidays for our passengers.

"To support this growth, we have made a strong commitment to invest nearly £60m to enhance our facilities so passengers continue to enjoy a seamless, world-class travel experience."

In March, easyJet will open a new three-aircraft base, adding 11 new destinations, including direct services to Prague and Nice.

Ryanair will also expand its operations, basing a third aircraft at the airport and launching new routes to Brussels, Budapest, Gdansk, Malta and Wroclaw for winter 2025/26, alongside extra flights to Alicante, Dublin and Kraków.

The airport recently published accounts for 2024 in which passenger numbers reached 5.21m. Passenger numbers are expected to come in at around 5.4m this year.