Teesside airport targets regional agents in awareness push

Teesside airport staff are visiting more than 120 travel agents to highlight its summer 2023 programme.

Visits are planned across the north-east ahead of the turn of year peak seeing period.

Eleven members of airport staff are taking to the road calling at agents from Newcastle to Bridlington.

The airport’s routes for next year are being highlighted, including the new destination of Antalya in Turkey with Tui.

The visits follow the airport’s busiest summer in almost a decade, which has saw passenger numbers on holiday flights more than 90% loaded. 

Teesside handled 23,358 passengers in August against 12,284 in the equivalent month in pre-pandemic 2019.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: “There are more than five million people living within a 90-minute drive to our airport and shining a spotlight on our airport starts with our regional travel agents. 

“With these efforts and their backing, I’ve no doubt we’ll see an even bigger and better 2023.”

Airport managing director Phil Forster added: “We’ve been working hard at every level to increase engagement with our airport, from taking part in international conferences such as Routes World to hosting travel agents at the airport, letting them see first-hand how we’ve changed.

“This is the first time we’ve taken our story to their doorsteps in a massive push involving a wide range of airport staff. 

“It’s important agents don’t just hear the same old sales pitch and getting everyone who is passionate about Teesside International to engage is a great way of showing the true face of the airport – a friendly, welcoming, stress-free start to anyone’s trip.”