Newcastle Airport named Routes World Awards winner
Newcastle International Airport (NCL) has taken top honours at the Routes World Awards 2024, being named Overall Winner and retaining its title in the Under 5 Million Passenger category for the second year running.
The airport, which serves as a vital hub for northeast England, was among eight winners celebrated during the awards ceremony held in Bahrain. The event recognises the achievements of airports, airlines, and destinations in strengthening global air connectivity.
Newcastle International connects the region to more than 80 destinations, working with 16 airline partners and offering onward connections to over 325 locations. The airport’s focus on sustainable growth has resulted in four new airline partners and the addition of 41 new routes since the pandemic.
Leon McQuaid, director of Aviation Development at Newcastle International Airport, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious Routes World award. A big thank you to all our airline partners for nominating us; this is incredible recognition for everyone working at Newcastle Airport. We truly appreciate the support of our airline partners, who continue to invest in the Newcastle market and provide vital connectivity for the northeast England region.”
Meanwhile, the 5-10 Million Passenger category was claimed by Edmonton International Airport (YEG) in Canada. The airport has made significant strides in expanding its route network, supported by a Regional Air Services Opportunities Fund, which aims to drive route development and stimulate local economic growth.
Adrian Warchola, Director of Air Service Development at Edmonton International Airport, said: “Edmonton International Airport is honoured to accept this award as we continue to work with our airline partners on more flights to more places. Thank you to our airline, industry, and community partners for their support and commitment to Edmonton. YEG’s air service development efforts are built on a foundation of collaborative partnerships, and we share this award with our YEG airline and airport community.”
Prague Airport (PRG), Czech Republic, won the 10-20 Million passenger category. The airport ranks among Europe’s fastest-growing airports, with a 29% rise in passengers and forecasts of 16.2 million for 2024. New routes include Etihad Airways’ flights from Abu Dhabi and Hainan Airlines’ service from Beijing.
Jiri Vyskoc, Executive Director of Aviation Business Development at Prague Airport, said: “It is a great privilege to see our dedication and hard work recognised by our airline partners. This year, we have already welcomed 14 new airlines, introduced 58 new routes, and increased frequencies on 42 routes thanks to our ongoing cooperation with airlines. This award is both a recognition of our achievements and motivation to continue our successful partnerships.”
The winner of the Over 20 Million passenger award was Brussels Airport (BRU), Belgium. The airport expects a post-pandemic record of 24 million passengers in 2024, served by 65 airlines flying to 185 destinations. Its route development strategy has led to several new airlines, including Singapore Airlines and Wizz Air, and 20 new destinations such as Toronto, Bangkok, and Seville.
Léon Verhallen, Director Aviation Development at Brussels Airport, said: “We are delighted that our strategy of ‘have seats, will travel’ is highly appreciated by our airlines. New routes and traffic growth go hand in hand with strong marketing support. We attracted 10 new airlines and 20 new destinations in 2023 and 2024, and we support airline growth through innovative campaigns. We also launched new marketing campaigns for even more passenger segments. This award is clear evidence of the success of Brussels Airport in the most competitive catchment area in Europe.”
The Airline award was won by British Airways, which focuses on strategic network development and sustainability, successfully connecting Britain with the world. Collaborative efforts with airline partners, such as joint business relationships and data sharing, support new routes like London Heathrow-Kuala Lumpur.
Photo credit: Ocean Driven Media
