Newcastle Airport celebrates strong progress on sustainability goals

Committed to being a responsible business and a good neighbour, the Airport set a number of stretching targets for 2023 to assist it in meeting its Net Zero Carbon 2035 and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) related goals:

• The Airport achieved a 31% reduction in its carbon emissions, surpassing target by 6%. It has continued to invest in the roll out of a fully electric vehicle fleet, with 17 new electric vehicles brought into service across the Airport in 2023.
• Completion of phase 1 of the Airport’s solar farm project; Launched in March 2023, phase 1 of the solar farm is capable of providing 100% of the Airport’s electricity requirements on a sunny day and has saved almost 400 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.
• Through the planting of 40,000m2 of hedgerows, a 34% increase in biodiversity has been attained, surpassing the 2023 target by 24%.
• The Airport continued to invest in its electric vehicle fleet, adding 17 new vehicles during 2023 to further help to reduce its carbon emissions.
• The Airport achieved its target of Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3 status, the only institutionally-endorsed, global carbon management certification programme for airports. Newcastle Airport gained ‘Sustainability Sector Leader’ status and was ranked 3rd in the world amongst participating airports in the GRESB assessment - an annual benchmark of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) data of over 2,000 real estate and infrastructure assets worldwide.
• The Airport continued to support its official charity partners through various fundraising activities: the Newcastle United Foundation, the SAFC Foundation of Light and the MFC Foundation during 2023. Airport employees also undertook various volunteering activities - including planting trees, bulbs and litter picking within the Abbotswood woodland in Woolsington.
• The Airport’s strong focus on equality, diversity and inclusion continued throughout 2023, with an EDI action plan being delivered. This resulted in EDI training for all employees, a newly formed EDI Forum consisting of members from across the business and a Women’s Leadership Forum, specifically focusing on women’s development within the organisation.

Nick Jones, CEO of Newcastle Airport said: "This year’s Corporate Social Responsibility Report highlights the fantastic work that has been going on right across our business to move us closer to our goals.

“From community volunteering and the planting of wildflower meadows, to continuing to invest in our electric vehicle fleet and rolling out innovative new recycling schemes – I am proud of the commitment and passion demonstrated by all our colleagues in relation to CSR.

“We don’t want to stop here. We have set ourselves another set of ambitious targets for 2024 – including working with our airline partners to encourage the use of sustainable aviation fuels, planting over 15,000 trees on Airport land and undertaking feasibility studies on a number of pioneering projects to further decarbonise our operations – and I am confident that by working together we will achieve our goals.”

"This year's CSR Report highlights the significant progress Newcastle Airport continues to make toward its ambitious sustainability goals," said Graeme Ferguson, Head of Airports – Europe at InfraBridge. "InfraBridge is proud supporter of Newcastle Airport's commitment to these initiatives and its work in the community. We are particularly proud of their effort to plant over 43,000 trees to date on and around the airport.”

Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: "The importance of the Airport to the region can’t be underestimated; it is a major employer, generates millions of pounds for the local economy, and attracts inbound tourism.

“It’s fantastic to see it taking its environmental and social responsibilities seriously. The Airport’s commitment to becoming net zero by the year 2035 aligns with our collective ambitions to be low carbon region. Working together, we can bring about positive change.”

The Airport has recently invested over £20million in the passenger experience ahead of the summer 2024 season, including the redevelopment of the security search area and refurbishment of all of the catering outlets in the departure lounge.

This year passengers can choose to travel with 16 airline partners to over 80 direct destinations. Plus, thanks to several daily connections to major hubs in Europe and the Middle East, including Amsterdam, Athens, Dubai, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, London Heathrow and Paris – passengers can take advantage of one-stop connections to hundreds more worldwide destinations.

Newcastle International Airport’s 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility Report can be viewed online here.