New jet centre is ready for take-off
AIRPORT GETS £25M BOOST
TEESSIDE International Airport has started the planning process of a new aircraft maintenance facility and “jet centre” – with investment worth £25m.
Global aviation companies Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) and Willis Aviation Services Limited are collaborating with the airport on the planned development, set to potentially create a significant amount of jobs for Teessiders.
It comes just days it was revealed £20m of taxpayers’ money is set to be put into Teesside Airport after it recorded losses of almost £12m.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said the losses were due to the pandemic and spending money on upgrades of infrastructure.
WLFC has taken over the operations of the airport’s existing jet centre, now known as Jet Centre by Willis, and is planning to build maintenance hangars on 13 acres of land previously earmarked for 350 homes.
The land also forms part of the Teesside Freeport.
As part of the 2019 airport deal, this portion of land was bought for £5m with the project set to create 200 “well-paid” jobs. The jet centre provides a full range of ground handling services for business, private aviation, military, and cargo flights, with plans for further improvements as WLFC expands its operations at the site.
WASL currently leases hangar two at the airport as its base for aircraft maintenance, storage and disassembly.
In December 2021, Mr Houchen flew to the US to negotiate the investment face-to-face with WLFC.
A planning application is now due to be submitted in the coming weeks.
Annual results released by Teesside Airport showed it remained in the red in the year up to March due to high investment costs and the ongoing impact of the pandemic on international travel.
The financial report states: “The airport had scaled up to accommodate the new flight schedule agreed with airlines.
“However, because of the extended period of the pandemic and continued complications with foreign travel, elements of the new flight schedule were suspended.
“The loss for the year is ultimately attributable to the underachievement of revenue and increased scale-up costs.” Passenger
numbers at the airport are estimated to hit 150,000 for the year in 2022, with the summer set to be a key measure of the airport’s performance.
Mr Houchen said: “Our routes and summer holiday flights are hugely important to the success of our airport, but for any airport to really thrive it has to be about more than just holiday flights.
“It’s multimillion-pound private sector investments which will truly secure our airport’s future – and this is potentially the largest we’ve seen in years.
“It is thanks in part to our Freeport status WLFC has begun the planning process to the scheme, proving how the Teesside Freeport is working not just for Teesworks but for the whole of the region.
“When I saved our airport from closure I said that no homes would be built on the airport site.
“Thanks to this the land which would have seen hundreds of houses spring up instead of being developed for its originally intended use, bringing a significant number of good-quality, wellpaid jobs while supporting the airport’s wider growth ambitions.
“WLFC has been based at Teesside since 2020 and since then have been hugely supportive as we drive forward the airport’s transformation.”