Ryanair Expands Newcastle Base with $300M Investment, Third Aircraft, 120,000 Extra Seats and Five New Routes for Winter 2025/26
Ryanair, the United Kingdom’s number one low-fares airline, has announced a major expansion of its operations at Newcastle International Airport, underscoring its commitment to the North East region with a significant US$300 million investment. The carrier confirmed today that it will base a third Boeing 737 8-200 “Gamechanger” aircraft at Newcastle for the Winter 2025/26 season. This development marks a substantial boost to Ryanair’s capacity in the region and sets the stage for a record-breaking schedule at the airport.
The deployment of the additional aircraft will add 120,000 new seats this winter, representing a 36% increase in capacity, and is expected to push Ryanair’s annual traffic through Newcastle to over one million passengers for the first time in the airline’s history. Alongside the growth in seat numbers, the low-cost giant has also unveiled five new winter routes to some of Europe’s most in-demand cities – Brussels, Budapest, Gdańsk, Malta, and Wrocław. These fresh connections complement Ryanair’s already strong schedule out of Newcastle and will sit alongside frequency increases on popular existing routes including Alicante, Dublin, and Kraków.
Record Winter 2025/26 Schedule
Ryanair’s new schedule at Newcastle for Winter 2025/26 represents one of the airline’s largest seasonal commitments to the airport. The highlights include:
- 1 new based Boeing 737 8-200 “Gamechanger” aircraft, bringing the total based fleet at Newcastle to three.
- US$300 million investment into the North East economy.
- 120,000 additional seats, marking a 36% capacity growth.
- 17 routes in total, including five new services to Brussels, Budapest, Gdańsk, Malta, and Wrocław.
- Increased flight frequencies on three key existing routes – Alicante, Dublin, and Kraków.
- Support for more than 850 local jobs, including 30 new highly paid pilot and cabin crew positions.
- Passenger numbers set to rise to over one million annually, a new record for Ryanair at Newcastle.
Strengthening Regional Connectivity
The new routes are carefully chosen to strengthen Newcastle’s connectivity to both leisure and business destinations across Europe. Brussels, the Belgian capital, is a brand-new destination for Newcastle Airport and will significantly improve business and political connectivity while also offering leisure travellers access to a city famed for its culture, cuisine, and architecture. Budapest, Gdańsk, Malta, and Wrocław have all grown in popularity in recent years as vibrant city break and holiday destinations, and Ryanair’s decision to increase services reflects passenger demand from the North East.
By enhancing both route choice and flight frequencies, Ryanair is ensuring that travellers in the North East have affordable, reliable, and convenient options when planning trips to Europe this winter.
A Major Boost for the North East Economy
Speaking at Newcastle, Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the wider economic benefits of this announcement:
“We are delighted to announce this additional US$100m investment – taking our total to US$300m – in Newcastle today. This third Boeing 737 8-200 ‘Gamechanger’ aircraft arriving this winter will provide a huge economic boost to the North East, delivering 120,000 additional seats, five new routes to Brussels, Budapest, Gdańsk, Malta, and Wrocław, and supporting over 850 local jobs, including 30 new pilot and cabin crew positions that we are currently recruiting for.”
McGuinness also pointed to Ryanair’s record schedule at Newcastle as a direct result of the strong working relationship with Newcastle Airport. However, he warned that government policy – in particular the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax – continues to hinder the competitiveness of UK airports compared with their European counterparts.
APD Tax Criticism and Call for Reform
Ryanair used the occasion to renew its criticism of the UK’s Air Passenger Duty, which currently adds £13 to the cost of every departing flight for both UK residents and international visitors. McGuinness argued that this tax puts UK airports, particularly those in the regions, at a disadvantage when compared with other European markets where governments are reducing aviation taxes to stimulate tourism and connectivity.
Countries such as Sweden, Hungary, and Italy have introduced measures to cut costs and encourage growth, while the UK government has opted to raise APD by a further £2 (+15%) from April 2026. According to Ryanair, this will cost the UK regions jobs, tourism revenue, and economic development.
Ryanair has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the UK government to abolish APD entirely, pledging that if the tax were removed the airline would immediately respond with its most ambitious UK expansion plan to date. That plan would include:
- Increasing annual UK passenger traffic by 27 million (+50%) to reach 80 million per year.
- Basing 30 additional aircraft across the UK (equivalent to a US$3 billion investment).
- Launching 200 new routes, bringing the total number of UK routes to 800.
- Creating 20,000 new jobs in the UK aviation sector.
This, Ryanair argues, would deliver massive benefits to connectivity, tourism, and regional development at a time when the UK economy needs growth stimulation.
Local Airport Perspective
Richard Knight, Chief Operating Officer of Newcastle Airport, welcomed Ryanair’s announcement and emphasised the importance of the airline’s commitment to the North East:
“It’s fantastic news that Ryanair have committed to further investment in the region with the addition of a third based aircraft at Newcastle Airport, bringing with it five exciting new winter routes to Brussels, Budapest, Malta, Wrocław, and Gdańsk for our passengers to enjoy.”
Knight also underlined that this expansion is expected to deliver over one million passengers for Ryanair over the next twelve months. He described the development as a reflection of the strength of the partnership between the airport and the airline, as well as growing demand from North East travellers for increased connectivity to Europe.
The new Brussels connection was singled out as particularly significant because it will be the first time the airport has offered direct flights to the Belgian capital. This service is expected to benefit both leisure and business travellers, giving companies in the North East easier access to one of Europe’s major centres for politics, commerce, and trade. Meanwhile, the extra winter flights to Budapest, Gdańsk, Malta, and Wrocław will expand travel options for leisure travellers, further boosting the appeal of Newcastle as a departure point.
Celebratory Seat Sale
To mark the launch of the third based aircraft and the five new routes, Ryanair has rolled out a two-day promotional seat sale. Fares are starting at just £29.99 and are exclusively available via the airline’s official website, Ryanair.com.
This limited-time offer is designed to encourage early bookings and provide North East travellers with the chance to secure low-cost travel to some of Europe’s most attractive destinations for winter breaks.
Ryanair’s latest announcement cements Newcastle’s position as a key hub for the airline in the UK. With the addition of the third Gamechanger aircraft, the airport will benefit not only from greater connectivity but also from the efficiencies delivered by Ryanair’s modern fleet. The 737 8-200 “Gamechanger” is known for its reduced fuel consumption and lower CO₂ emissions, making it more environmentally efficient than earlier models.
As Newcastle Airport looks to the future, the combination of expanded capacity, new routes, and stronger partnerships positions the North East to compete more effectively for both leisure and business travellers. Ryanair’s growth also demonstrates the vital role that regional airports play in driving economic development, job creation, and tourism in the UK.
Ryanair’s decision to base a third aircraft at Newcastle for Winter 2025/26 represents far more than an operational expansion – it is a vote of confidence in the North East and its potential as a thriving aviation hub. With five new routes, a record one million annual passengers, and a US$300 million investment, the airline is cementing its role as a cornerstone of affordable travel in the UK.
While challenges such as the APD tax remain contentious, Ryanair’s announcement demonstrates how strategic airline investment can deliver tangible benefits to local economies, create jobs, and expand choices for passengers. For travellers in the North East, winter 2025/26 promises greater connectivity at Europe’s lowest fares – with Ryanair once again leading the way.