Teesside Airport, an international airport located in Darlington, Tees Valley, UK, approximately 16km south-west of Middlesbrough, has undergone a major terminal redevelopment.
Formerly known as Durham Tees Valley Airport, the airport handled approximately 150,735 passengers in 2019 and 38,540 passengers in 2020.
Recommended White Papers
Recommended Buyers Guides
The airport has a single terminal building. Plans to redevelop the airport were unveiled in December 2020 while the refurbished and remodelled terminal was opened to travellers in June 2021 following the completion of a major overhaul project.
Endeavour Partnership, a law firm based in Teesside, provided financial support for the redevelopment of Teesside International Airport.
Details of Teesside International Airport’s terminal redevelopment
The modernised airport features newly upgraded check-in desks and revamped departure lounges. The previously mothballed areas of the terminal have been reopened. The arrivals hall at the Teesside Airport has been upgraded as part of the renovation works.
The upgrade included new walls, signage, flooring, and painting work to enhance the passenger experience. The departure lounge also underwent a facelift through new signage, carpeting, and painting.
The security area was renovated to streamline the process of security checks. The reconfigured area was installed with a new advanced body scanner and a C3 x-ray baggage scanner to make security checks and passenger processing quicker.
With the installation of baggage belts and an advanced 3D hold luggage scanner, hazards such as bombs can be detected while the passage through the departure gates is more convenient and hassle-free.
The streamlining of the security processes ensures smooth international travel via Amsterdam Schiphol and Heathrow.
Additional upgrades at Teesside airport
As part of its major terminal redevelopment, several new food and beverage spaces, including The Transporter Bar and Kitchen, Landside Café, and The Goosepool bar, have been unveiled at the airport.
The addition of two new executive luxury lounges and a coffee shop allows passengers to relax at the airport before boarding the flight.
An additional fully refurbished boarding gate was also installed to serve the passengers. The Teesside Airport also welcomed duty-free shopping after an eight-year absence. World Duty Free, a subsidiary of Dufry, secured a 12-year contract to operate tax and duty-free retail at the airport.
Furthermore, the airport management added a dedicated family friendly zone to support the needs of passengers travelling with children. Approximately 92% of the redevelopment work at the airport, including design, electrical work, construction and renovations, was performed by local firms.
Amenities at the remodelled airport
The project also involved a new manned passenger support desk to assist travellers.
The new airside bar with a contemporary design serves a variety of alcoholic beverages such as beers, wines, spirits, and cocktails, as well as non-alcoholic beverages.
The car park area was also upgraded as part of the airport’s terminal redevelopment.
Other developments at the airport
In March 2020, construction began on a new £200m ($256.23m) business park at the Teesside International Airport to serve as a logistics and manufacturing space.
Teesside Airport entered an agreement with two local businesses in February 2021 to open a new concept store, named House of Zana and Rejoy, in the airport’s departure lounge to showcase local brands.
In October 2020, Teesside Airport announced a new partnership with Darlington-based Rockliffe Hall Hotel, a five-star luxury golf and spa hotel.
The airport also introduced the OrderNext mobile ordering platform amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic to provide a safe contactless food and refreshments ordering experience to passengers.
Contractors involved
Building contractors 186 Property Solutions was engaged to renovate the central search area in security. Wharton Construction was contracted to build the airside bar area.
Local firms Infinity Constructions North East and MJ Joinery refurbished the airport’s toilets while Powercare Electrical Services served as an electrical subcontractor.
Architectural practice Corstorphine & Wright received a contract to provide design and project management services for the airport modernisation.
Teesside International Airport background
Teesside International Airport served as a Second World War bomber base in the 1940s and launched commercial passenger flights in April 1964.
The airport is jointly owned by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA, 75%) and airport services provider Stobart Aviation (25%). It offers connectivity to more than 323 destinations across the world.
