10 Things You Didn’t Know About Durham Tees Valley Airport

If you’ve never heard of Durham, or the Tees Valley, you may know the surrounding areas of Newcastle, Northumberland and North Yorkshire. Durham itself is a university town, and the region is also home to Alnwick Castle, which was famously used as Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films. It will come as no surprise then that there is an international airport serving this region.
See what else you didn’t know about this airport.
1. The airport changed its name from Durham International Airport to Durham Tees Valley Airport in 2004 to help build on the past success and to continue as one of the UK’s fastest growing airports.
2. Previous to being a commercial airport, the site was an RAF base, Middleton-St-George. The last Victoria Cross to be awarded posthumously to an airman of World War 2 was given to Andrew Mynarski, who was based here.
3. The RAF base closed down in 1963. Instead of it falling into disrepair, the local authorities had a vision that the airfield could be an airport. The RAF finally left in September 1964.
4. Durham Airport was opened in 1966 by Queen Margaritha of Sweden, and the first scheduled service from the airport was to Manchester.
5. The airport soon became a successful local airport providing the people of the north east with an easy to get to airport, serving many destinations, and also a gateway to the north east for passengers from abroad.
6. In 2002 the airport was modernised. A new access road to the terminal was made, the car parking was improved and an enhanced terminal building was built.
7. Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Yorkshire as well as other local and regional tourist attractions are within easy reach for passengers arriving at Durham Tees Valley Airport
8. Visitors to the region may choose to explore the shopping, nightlife and stunning beaches in and around Newcastle. County Durham offers the castles, museums and the famous North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish, and Durham Cathedral, considered to one of the best cathedrals in the world. The Yorkshire Dales offer unrivalled scenery whatever the season as well as famous hospitality and many events and festivals.
9. Durham Tees Valley Airport has continued to grow and now serves destinations in the West Indies, and Europe as well as to locations within the UK
10. There are currently 15 airlines and holiday companies flying out of Durham Tees Valley Airport, making it a viable alternative to Manchester and Newcastle airports.
Now you know more about Durham Tees Valley Airport, isn’t it time your next flight took off or landed there?

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