easyJet to open a new base at city's airport

BUDGET airline easyJet is to open a new base at Newcastle Airport, creating hundreds of jobs and adding new destinations for North East holidaymakers.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

The base opening next year will bring three new aircraft to Newcastle. That will create 130 direct jobs and support around 1,200 in the base's supply chain.

New destinations will be added to the eight routes easyJet current flies to from Newcastle, though they have not yet been finalised. easyJet said it was likely to be adding new destinations in “Europe and beyond.”

The announcement has been welcomed by local and national politicians as a boost the region's economy, and is likely to bring more inbound visitors to the North East.

Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s chief executive, said: “The UK is an important market for easyJet, and we are excited to be opening yet another UK base, in Newcastle, driven by the demand for our flights and package holidays.