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The full scope of plans to modernise Teesside International Airport has revealed, ahead of a recruitment drive early in the new year to fill roles the redevelopment will create.

The redevelopment of the airport will mean passengers jetting off next summer will have a raft of new food and drink options with new bars, two new executive lounges and a coffee shop.

An essential part of any airport, the duty free area, is also set to return after eight years, so travellers can pick up great deals on a range of items such as perfumes, sweet treats and more.

A dedicated family-friendly zone will be introduced, making travel with children easier and stress free, and staff will be on hand to help passengers thanks to a new manned passenger assistance desk.

The renovation will also see areas closed off by Peel in 2014 reopened, with extra check-in desks created to cope with the thousands of extra passengers that will be welcomed for next year’s summer season.

Work will be undertaken by local firms and is set to be complete by April next year.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:

“These great visuals are giving us an early snapshot into an airport on the up.

“These are not images of some distant future that will never materialise, work is already under way and is due to be complete in mere months, in plenty of time to welcome the passengers that will flood through our terminal for our expanded summer 2021 holiday flights.

“New food and drink areas will mean people will be able to relax and grab a great meal before catching their flight.

“As well as bringing in extra check-in desks, we’re bringing back something every airport worth its salt has – a duty free zone.

“We’re expecting 2021, the airport’s 80th anniversary year, to be the biggest and best in a very long time as we begin to see the results of the coronavirus vaccine and people book holidays they’ve been looking forward to for months.

“Since taking back control of our airport and saving it from closure we’ve been supporting our brilliant local businesses, within days of bringing it back into public ownership we appointed our first local company and we’ve not stopped.

“This latest work is no different and in the coming weeks we’ll be revealing more information about how they can get involved.”

Hannah Mohammed, Teesside International Airport’s Retail and Commercial Manager, said:

“When I first came through the airport doors, when it was serving nearly one million passengers, it was bustling. But then I saw the walls go up on the check-in desks as fewer and fewer people were coming through.

“Despite this, my passion, goals and vision for the airport has never changed and I’m delighted I’m still here to see the walls come back down, areas being brought back to life and a new food, drink and duty free options being opened.

“I know this is the start of something fantastic so people’s holidays can start the second they step into the terminal.”

Tom Harrison, Corstorphine+ Wright Associate Director, said:

“Corstorphine + Wright Architects are delighted to be providing Architectural and Project Management services to the Teesside International Airport on this flagship project.

“We see the airport as central to the current and future economic development of the Tees Valley region and are delighted to be able to play a part in its renaissance.”

Just days ago, the airport revealed its £3milllion overhaul to security and check-in desks, including a cutting-edge 3D hold baggage scanner set to be installed, and new bag and body scanners which are cutting waiting times.

They reduce the need for physical checks and mean passengers will no longer need to remove liquids and electronics from bags and pass them through separately.

They also remove the need to pass through security again at Heathrow or Schiphol if taking an onward flight.

Over the past three months, Teesside International has secured a low-cost carrier in Ryanair, offering services to Alicante and Majorca from June 2021.

Loganair will also begin operating a series of domestic flights from next year and Balkan Holidays will expand its summer service twice-weekly to Bourgas, Bulgaria. The UK’s biggest holiday company, TUI, is also set to start a Majorca service from Teesside in 2022.

During this redevelopment phase, a temporary check-in and security area will be relocated within the terminal while the work is carried out.

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