Airport flyingGolf high after rise in revenues
Lilly Hartley and her teacher, Claire Canham, get their hair cut for charity INCREASING flights to summer sunshine destinations gave Newcastle International Airport a 4% boost in revenues, taking turnover to £69.5m.
The business behind the North East airport – NIAL Group Limited – has published accounts for 2018 which show the airport welcomed 5.39m passengers last year, 40,000 more than in 2017.
Earnings also increased, with operating profit coming in at £29.9m, a rise of 8% on the previous year, and Ebitda increasing to £40.8m, up 6%.
Airport directors said revenues were boosted by modest growth in passenger numbers alongside a strong commercial performance.
A report accompanying the accounts details how the airport has continued to invest in facilities and infrastructure, with work to upgrade its hold bagage system concluding during the year, offering additional capacity and improved efficiency. The immigration hall’s extension was also finished in June, and the airport’s own app, called NCL Airport, was launched on Apple and Android in July, allowing customers to book car parking, lounge access and security fast track, while also listing real-time flight arrival and departure updates and alerts.
Following on from several award wins in 2017, the group was awarded the 2018 Airport Service Quality award for best airport for its size and region.
Directors attributed the rise in passenger numbers to an increase in low-cost capacity, with low-cost international traffic increasing 4% year-on-year thanks to an increased flying programme to Turkey and other sunshine destinations over the summer season.
Meanwhile, low-cost domestic passenger numbers grew by 7% compared to the previous year, mainly due to increases in passengers to Belfast and Bristol. Scheduled domestic flights, however, fell by 2% through a reduction in weekly flights to Southampton.
Reductions in capacity to Dublin and Amsterdam also contributed to an 8% fall in scheduled international traffic.
Within the airport itself, shops and catering facilities showed strong growth and revenue – much of which is commissioned to thirdparty operators – was 5% up.
Mark Hunt, chief financial officer at Newcastle International Airport, said: “Last year was another successful year for Newcastle International Airport – with passenger numbers growing to 5.4m. Revenue increased by 4% to £69.5m, supported by the increase in passenger numbers and strong commercial performance, and Profit Before Tax increased by 52% to £10.4m.
“Newcastle aims to be the best airport by focusing on customer service and in 2018 we were named the ‘Best Airport’ of its size in the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards for the second consecutive year. Throughout the year we continued to invest in the latest technology and new infrastructure, including the NCL Airport App and new car park developments.”