KLM and Newcastle Airport celebrate 40 years of partnership

This week, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is celebrating 40 years of partnership with Newcastle Airport.

Starting in October 1984, KLM operated one flight every weekday between Newcastle and Amsterdam. Today, the airline operates up to five daily flights.

The connectivity the airport and its airline partners such as KLM provide to the North East has helped attract inward investment, boost international exports and increase inbound tourism.

Since 2021, over 7000 jobs have been created in the region thanks to foreign direct investment and last year, the North East welcomed 69 million visitors, contributing £6.1 billion to the region’s economy.

Over the last 12 months more than 347,000 passengers have travelled through the Airport with KLM.

Combined with KLM’s group partner, Air France, both airlines provide passengers flying from Newcastle Airport access to 227 worldwide destinations.

Leon McQuaid, director of aviation development at Newcastle Airport, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating this fantastic milestone with KLM, its passengers and business partners this week.

“We would like to thank the airline for its significant contribution to the growth of the Airport and for the part it has played in connecting the region to the world over the past 40 years – supporting millions of journeys out of, and into the region.

“Celebrating our past partnership is important, but so is looking to the future and we are very much looking forward to working together for the next 40 years!”

Jerome Salemi, KLM general manager for the UK and Ireland, said: “We are very proud to be celebrating such a milestone with Newcastle Airport.

“Newcastle Airport holds a significant place as one of our 17 departure points across the UK and we look forward to continuing this great relationship with the Airport and the local community from the North East for years to come.”

Sarah Green, Chief Executive, NewcastleGateshead Initiative said: “Together as a region we have a plan to double the value of our visitor economy in parallel with the North East Combined Authority’s trailblazing devolution deal.

“Our partnership with Newcastle Airport and their airlines underpins this ambitious growth strategy.

“Anyone who has visited knows the North East England is a fantastic place to visit, offering unrivalled landscapes, world-class cultural experiences and the very best welcome.”

To mark the celebration, some of KLM’s most long-standing passengers and business partners were welcomed by the airline to an exclusive wine tasting event at the Baltic on Gateshead’s Quayside last night and the Millennium Bridge was illuminated in celebration (pictured).

Pictured, left to right: Stevan Van Wijk, commercial director UK & Ireland Air France-KLM, Alice Andreasen, chief sustainability and communications officer, Newcastle International Airport, Jerome Salemi, general manager UK & Ireland Air France-KLM, Chris Ion, aviation development manager, Newcastle International Airport in front of the Gateshead Millenium Bridge.