Newcastle Airport and North East Ports sign agreement to boost regional growth
Mayor of the North East Kim McGuinness has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the region’s key transport and logistics hubs – Newcastle Airport, Port of Blyth, Port of Tyne and Port of Sunderland – creating the North East Ports Partnership.
image: NECA
The agreement aims to align strategies and resources to strengthen global connectivity, attract investment, accelerate the transition to a net zero economy, and promote the North East as a hub for sustainable trade and innovation.
The Partnership is expected to unlock hundreds of millions in investment, create thousands of jobs, and support the region’s role in offshore wind, low-carbon fuels, and renewable energy development.
The MOU sets out objectives including enhancing regional and international connectivity, supporting clean energy and green innovation, promoting inward investment and job creation, and collaborating on workforce skills development in green industries.
Newcastle Airport Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Alice Andreasen said, “Connectivity is the lifeblood of economic growth. At Newcastle Airport, this memorandum enhances our ability to attract investment and connect the North East to key global markets. Together, we’re building a future where trade, travel, and sustainability go hand in hand.”
Mayor Kim McGuinness added, “This agreement is about unlocking new jobs by putting the North East back on the world map for business and tourism where it belongs. We have brought our three biggest ports and airport together for the first time to unlock their full potential to drive sustainable growth, attract major investment and lead the way on green energy jobs.”
The ports and airport together handle over 15m tonnes of cargo annually and facilitate significant passenger travel, with Newcastle Airport expecting six million passengers in 2026. The airport contributes more than £1bn in GVA to the regional economy.
Matt Beeton, CEO of the Port of Tyne, said the partnership provides “the scale required to ensure the North East can lay claim to a future rich in employment through renewable energy deployment, automotive transition and large-scale manufacturing.”
Martin Lawlor, CEO of the Port of Blyth, added, “Together, we can position the North East as a global leader in offshore energy and sustainable logistics.”