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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Sean Seddon

Newcastle Airport deserted due to coronavirus pandemic - with just one flight arriving per day

Newcastle Airport has been left deserted as the Covid-19 pandemic hits the air travel industry.

The amount of planes passing through the airport has been slashed to just ONE in and out some days, an unthinkable situation just a matter of weeks ago.

On Monday afternoon - when these pictures were taken - the only plane to land on the runway was a KLM flight from Amsterdam at 9.50am.

Airlines have been hit hard by a sharp decline in passenger numbers and the Government is under pressure from some in the industry to alleviate financial pressure on airports.

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The commercial air travel sector has all but collapsed in some cases with the Foreign Office advising against all but essential travel 'indefinitely'.

But Newcastle Airport bosses say they're still open for business and ready to welcome North East holidaymakers back once the pandemic has ended.

A spokesperson said: "The Airport is open and will remain so for as long as the Government and airlines require, despite the significant reduction in flights that has affected airports across the UK and the rest of the world.

"Throughout this challenging period we have been working closely with the Government and other authorities, including Public Health England, to ensure the operation is safe for passengers and staff.

"We are very much looking forward to welcoming our passengers back when normal operations resume.

"In the meantime we have been keeping in touch with everyone via our social media channels, where passengers have been remembering their last holiday and sharing their plans for future trips from the region."

Flybe, a British airline catering for the domestic market, entered administration in early March. The business had been in financial difficulties before the crisis began.

Yesterday it was announced that Easyjet had loaned £600m from the Treasury and Bank of England's emergency coronavirus fund.

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