Newcastle Airport Parking

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Guide to Newcastle Airport

Used by more than 4.6 million passengers each year, Newcastle Airport (NCL) is the second busiest airport in the north of England and is located 5.8 miles (9.3 kilometres) north west of Newcastle city centre.

NCL serves 80 destinations with scheduled flights from more than 15 airlines, including long-haul flights to Dubai. More than 3,000 aircraft movements (departures and arrivals) take place each month at Newcastle Airport, comprised of scheduled domestic and international flights, inclusive tours, freight and private flights.

Newcastle Airport is the 11th busiest airport in the United Kingdom and it supports more than 12,000 jobs across the North East region, contributing over £600 million annually to the regional economy. The airport benefited from a £70 million investment in facilities that led to improvements including additional car parking and the construction of a rail link to the mainline network in 2016.

Location of Newcastle Airport

The airport is located just off the A696, between the villages of Ponteland and Woolsington, 5.8 miles (9.8 kilometres) north west of Newcastle city centre.

NCL benefits from good transport links and serves passengers from all over the North East of England, as well as South Scotland and Cumbria. Visitors travelling from the north and south can take the A1 to reach the airport, while the A69 connects NCL to the west and the A68 provides an alternative route for anyone travelling from Edinburgh.

Drive times to Newcastle Airport are in the region of just 15 minutes from central Newcastle, two hours from Edinburgh and Leeds, and three hours from Glasgow and Manchester. The airport also has direct rail links and can be accessed by bus, bicycle and taxi.

History of Newcastle Airport

The origins of Newcastle Airport date back to July 26th 1935, when the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Aero Club opened a facility that consisted of little more than a grass runway, a wooden clubhouse, a hangar and a garage at a cost of £35,000. Scheduled services in those early days included flights to and from Croydon in London and Perth in Scotland. In 1937 Allied Airways began operating a service between Newcastle and Stavanger in Norway.

The RAF utilised the airport as a wartime base in the 1940s and built a wooden air traffic control tower, but it was in the post-war period that dramatic expansion took place with routes to London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf opening along with package holiday flights to the Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight.

Following investment from local authorities, a new terminal building was built and Prime Minister Harold Wilson attended its official opening in 1967. The airport gained Category B status from the government in 1978 and hit the milestone of serving one million passengers in 1980.

Remarkably, the airport was managed by the same individual for 37 years: former RAF pilot Jim Denyer was appointed airport manager in 1952 and he led the development of the facility until his retirement in 1989.

After the turn of the century, the airport was rebranded 'Newcastle International' and became a hub for low-cost airlines operating flights around Europe.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Newcastle Airport Facilities

While not as large as other northern UK airports such as Manchester and Glasgow, NCL offers a broad range of facilities to provide for the needs of passengers taking short-haul flights domestically and around Europe.

The focus is on food and drink with a family-friendly vibe, but Newcastle Airport also caters to the customers who pass through on business trips, group holidays and luxurious getaways. The airport boasts three lounges: the British Airways lounge for passengers flying with BA, the Aspire lounge and the AspirePlus lounge.

Families with babies can find four changing stations at NCL, two airside and two landside, and the airport has nappies, baby milk and toiletries available at Boots, which is located in the departure lounge. There is a children's play area at the Flying Hippo restaurant and a video games arcade for older children and adults.

Facilities at Newcastle include:

• Baby changing facilities

• Baggage wrapping and weighing

• Beauty lounge

• Cash machines

• Car rentals

• Chaplaincy

• Concierge service

• Currency exchange

• Aspire and Aspire Plus lounges with complimentary bar and buffet

• Fast-track car parking

• Hotels

• Internet access

• Children’s play area

• Left luggage

• Lost property

• Porter services

• Prayer room

• Restaurants

  • Fast food

  • Takeaway

  • World cuisine

• Shopping

  • High-street brands

  • Newsagents

  • Convenience stores

• Smoking areas

• Trolleys

• Video game arcade

• World Duty Free with reserve and collect service

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Newcastle Airport Hotel And Parking

There are five hotels near Newcastle Airport, three of which are within half a mile of the terminal building and all of them offer parking packages.

The Britannia Hotel, located just three minutes' walk from the airport, offers three-star accommodation and has 270 parking spaces on site. The hotel advertises 8-day and 15-day accommodation and parking packages, but you can contact them directly to request additional days.

If you're looking for a four-star hotel near Newcastle International Airport, the DoubleTree by Hilton is located opposite the terminal building and offers a range of airport parking packages. Each of the Hilton's packages includes a one-night stay, car parking for as many days as required and easy cancellation. Valet parking is available, as well as a free shuttle between the hotel and car park.

The three-star Premier Inn at Newcastle Airport also has on-site parking at affordable rates, but only for the night of your stay.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Top things to do in Newcastle Airport

Newcastle is a city full of character and northern charm where people know how to relax and enjoy themselves. The airport offers the chance to sample some of the city's culture and you can take the opportunity to live like a Geordie, taste the local fayre and get to know what makes the North East so distinctive.

Sample the local ale

Newcastle is famous for its beers, particularly Newcastle Brown Ale. The brown stuff is no longer brewed in the city, but you can still enjoy a bottle of it at The Beer House inside the terminal at Newcastle International. The pub replaced the Woolsington Arms and has been tailored for those who appreciate hand-pulled ales and craft beers, many of which are sourced from Tyne Bank brewery in Newcastle itself.

Lounge around

If you're not in the mood to eat, drink or shop, putting your feet up at the Aspire Lounge in Newcastle Airport is probably your best bet. The lounge is not airline exclusive, so all passengers can book in advance or pay on the day to access unlimited free WiFi, a selection of complimentary snacks, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks and the day's papers, as well as Andy Play Pods to keep the kids happy.

There is also the adults-only Aspire Plus Lounge, with a whisky bar and private SnoozePods should you need to catch up on some sleep, while British Airways passengers have their own dedicated lounge at NCL.

Book a board meeting

While Newcastle Airport doesn't offer meeting rooms of its own, it has a four-star DoubleTree by Hilton hotel within a stone's throw of the terminal building, where there are five dedicated meeting rooms that you can book in advance of your visit. The facilities are every bit as good as you'd expect from a Hilton hotel and each meeting room has built-in audio visual equipment, a sound system and air conditioning.

Watch the Toon Army

Should you be passing through Newcastle International on a day when the city's beloved football team is in action, you might get the chance to experience the unique atmosphere that Newcastle United fans create when they support their team. There are screens throughout the airport showing live sports and you can be certain you'll find at least a few fans of the Magpies glued to the action if United are playing.

Offload your luggage

There is a baggage porter service available at NCL, so you needn't struggle with heavy luggage once you arrive at the airport. A staff member will meet you at the assistance call point in the car park and carry your bags into the terminal. On your return, they will help you take your bags from the luggage belt back to your vehicle. If you would like help with your luggage all the way through departures, you can book the Newcastle Airport 'Meet and Assist' service and be walked right up to your boarding gate by a staff member.

Get a facial

At Aerospa Newcastle Airport, you can enjoy beauty and relaxation treatments that are tailored to the amount of time you have to spare before your departure. The qualified therapists at Aerospa offer Caudalie massage and facial treatments, as well as manicures, pedicures, blow-dry treatments and waxing.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Top things to do near Newcastle Airport

Newcastle International is located just half an hour from a National Park and a beach and is even closer to a national landmark and Newcastle’s bustling city centre. If you've got a few hours to spare when you arrive at Newcastle Airport and want to make the most of your time, here are some of the options available to you:

Come face-to-face with an Angel

Seen by more than one person every second as they pass by on the A1, the Angel of the North is one of the UK's most famous pieces of public art. Standing 20 metres high on the site of a former coal mine, the Angel has been overlooking the city of Newcastle since 1998.

Sculptor Anthony Gormley said he created what is thought to be the largest angel sculpture in the world because no-one has ever seen one and we need to keep imagining them. Seeing the Angel of the North up close is an inspiring experience and the sculpture is just 12.8 miles (20.5 kilometres) away from the airport, which equates to a 17-minute journey by car.

Survive an 80-foot drop

It's not every day that you get the chance to plummet 80 feet through the air, reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometres per hour), before splashing down in a pool of warm water. If that sounds like an experience you can't afford to miss, you can travel 25 minutes east from Newcastle International Airport to Wet 'n' Wild Water Park in North Shields (13.4 miles/21.6 kilometres), where the UK's fastest water slide, 'The Kamikaze', awaits daring visitors along with a range of other slides and fun pools.

Visit England's third oldest university

Durham, located to the south of Newcastle, is a city steeped in history - if you've got time to make a 32-minute drive to the University of Durham, you can take a look around an institution with medieval roots. Durham Castle, which dates back to 1072, is now part of the university whose buildings are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes Durham Cathedral. Events take place throughout the year to celebrate Durham's spectacular history, but the university alone is worth a visit even if you just take a walk around its ancient grounds.

Fly before your flight

If you're only in Newcastle for a short time but want to get a sense of the city, Northumbria Helicopters offers tours over the city. You can choose to fly for 15 or 30 minutes from the helipad located on-site at NCL and take a trip over the famous Tyne Bridge, the Angel of the North and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. If you've got a bit longer, you can even book a trial helicopter flying lesson for 30 or 60 minutes.

Make friends with a falcon

NCL is situated close to some beautiful countryside, so if you want to use your layover to get back to nature, the 10-minute drive to Riverside Falconry might be for you. Set in the beautiful Tyne Valley in Newburn, the centre offers the chance to see birds of prey in full flight including, barn owls, kestrels and a number of non-native hawks and eagles.

If you want to get a bit closer, you can book a handling session and find yourself with an owl on your arm. The centre is geared up for families and handling sessions are suitable for children and adults of all ages.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Which terminal?

Newcastle International is a relatively small airport with a single terminal building. The airport's official car parks are gathered in close proximity to the building itself, so following signs to any of them will take you towards the entrance to the airport for both arrivals and departures.Jet2.com is amongst a number of budget airlines that operate out of Newcastle, including easyjet and Flybe. There are 15 airlines in total that fly from Newcastle Airport:

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

How to get to Newcastle Airport

Car

If you're driving to Newcastle International and using satellite navigation, the postcode to enter is NE13 8BZ. If you're travelling from the north, the A1 will take you almost all the way there – you just need to turn onto the A696 at Kenton Bar Roundabout and the airport will be a few minutes away on your right. The A1 is also the quickest way to reach NCL from the south by simply taking the first exit onto the A696 at Kenton Bar.

Train

The Tyne and Wear Metro links Newcastle Airport to the city centre and surrounding areas via a light rail network. Trains to and from the centre of Newcastle run every 12 minutes from around 6am to midnight and the journey takes approximately 25 minutes. The Metro takes around 55 minutes when travelling between Sunderland and the airport.

You can use the Metro to get to the airport from Newcastle Central Station, where trains on the North East rail network link Newcastle to major cities all over the UK. Trains to Newcastle from London and Birmingham take around four hours, while the journey from Manchester takes three hours and from Leeds just two hours.

Bus

There are regular bus services connecting Newcastle Airport with destinations all over the city, including the number 74, which passes through Hexham, Darras Hall, Ponteland, Newcastle Airport and the city centre.

National Express coaches also run to Newcastle Coach Station from destinations around the UK and the train station is a short walk away.

Bicycle

NCL offers free parking for bicycles by the short-stay car park. The journey by bicycle from the city centre takes around 40 minutes.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Useful Tips

No need to panic

Because Newcastle Airport is quite small and its car parks are right outside the terminal building, you can pass through rather quickly. If you're heading to the airport from Newcastle city centre, you can go from being in the middle of town to your departure gate in less than an hour.

As with all airports, it pays to give yourself extra time, but the journey through NCL can be a swift one on less busy days.

Security can be thorough

Security checks at UK airports tend to be quite thorough, so be ready for this before approaching the barriers. You'll be asked to take off any coats or jackets, remove any belts and quite possibly your shoes and empty the contents of your pockets. Laptops and personal computers will need to be out of your hand luggage and any liquids you're carrying must be visible in a sealed plastic bag (also available at security). Get yourself ready and speed up the security check for yourself and anyone in the queue behind you.

Everywhere is walkable

While the shuttle busses from the various car parks to the front of the terminal are frequent, the distance they travel is so short that it is often quicker to go on foot, where possible, than to wait for the next bus.

Be careful where you smoke

If you are a smoker, bear in mind that smoking is not permitted inside the terminal or within seven metres of the building.

The two designated smoking areas are located at either end of the terminal, but just ask a member of airport staff if you're not sure.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Newcastle Airport FAQs

How do I book assistance at the airport?

If you or any members of your travelling party require assistance at the airport, you need to notify the airline you are flying with at least 48 hours before you arrive at Newcastle Airport. Most of the airlines that operate from NCL allow you to book assistance online when you purchase your flight.

When you arrive at Newcastle International, head to your airline's check-in desk and notify them of your need for assistance. You will then be referred to the Special Assistance desk if further help from airport staff is required.

Is there a fast track option at security?

You can purchase a Fast Track Security Pass online when you make your reservation or at one of the two kiosks located in the terminal building on the day of your flight. Once you have a pass, you will be able to use the dedicated Fast Track channel to get through security. Children under five are permitted to use Fast Track at Newcastle Airport for free, as long as they are with a fare-paying adult.

What is there for children to do at the airport?

There is a small play area for young children at the Flying Hippo restaurant inside the terminal and a video games arcade for older children and teenagers. Passengers who pay to use the Aspire Lounge will be able to access the Andy Play Pods for young children, which feature tablets preloaded with games suitable for kids.

What's the quickest way to get from Newcastle Airport to the city centre?

Travelling by car is the quickest way to get between Newcastle Airport and the city centre. Driving or taking a taxi from the city centre to the airport via the A167 and the A696 takes just 10 minutes on a clear run, while the metro takes 27 minutes.

Can I pick someone up at the airport without paying to park?

Unfortunately not. There is no authorised drop-off or pick-up point at the airport and staff monitor drivers closely to ensure unauthorised parking – even for just a short while – doesn't occur. The express pick-up and drop-off car park is located just outside the terminal and is ticketless, but you will be required to pay when you exit.

Is the car rental centre located at the airport itself?

Yes, the car rental desks are located inside the terminal, opposite the domestic arrivals area.

Can I use a boarding pass on my smartphone at Newcastle Airport?

Newcastle International is fully up-to-date with boarding pass scanners that work with printed tickets and mobile apps, so if your airline offers a mobile app, you can use a boarding pass on your smartphone rather than printing out your ticket.

What are the rules about taking liquids onto flights?

You can only carry liquids onto your flight if they are 100 millilitres or less and presented in a clear, sealable 1 litre plastic bag as you pass through security.