Discovery Museum supports Newcastle Airport’s 90th birthday celebrations
“It’s exciting that North East Museums is playing a part in the celebration of this important regional milestone by helping create this exhibition."
Discovery Museum is supporting Newcastle Airport’s 90th anniversary celebrations with the creation of an exhibition and touring installation to feature in the Airport and cultural venues across the North East.
The 90 Years Going Further Together exhibition launched at the Airport on 30 June, with its companion installation on show from 25 July - 11 January 2026 at Discovery Museum in Newcastle. This installation will then also be on show at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and The Word in South Shields.
Keith Merrin, Director of North East Museums said:
“It’s exciting that North East Museums is playing a part in the celebration of this important regional milestone by helping create this exhibition. Newcastle International Airport has made such a significant positive impact on the North East.
“We’re proud to showcase innovation and the resilient spirit of the region in our museums, and Newcastle International Airport has been a large part of that story. I’m sure visitors to the exhibition and touring installation will be fascinated.”
Discovery Museum’s touring installation celebrates 90 years of the Airport from inception, its role in the Second World War to its place in the North East region today through images from the Airport’s archive.
The exhibitions draw from Newcastle Airport’s archive, offering a unique glimpse into its rich past and ongoing contribution to the world today
The exhibition curated by Discovery Museum on display at the Airport also charts its humble beginnings in 1935 to contemporary times. It explores how the Airport has shaped the North East region’s identity and showcases Flight Attendant uniforms and other fascinating objects, leading up to its current ambitious journey to become Net Zero Carbon by 2035. The exhibitions draw from Newcastle Airport’s archive, offering a unique glimpse into its rich past and ongoing contribution to the world today.
“This exhibition is just the beginning of our 90th anniversary celebrations and we are excited to mark this major milestone with our passengers, partners and local communities.”
Alice Andreasen, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Newcastle Airport, said:
“Celebrating 90 years is a proud milestone for everyone at Newcastle Airport.
“The exhibition gives a fascinating insight into how far we’ve come - from our first eight-seater aircraft flying to and from London, to welcoming 5.2 million passengers last year and offering direct flights to over 80 destinations and more than 300 onward connections worldwide.
“As our passenger numbers and route network have grown, so too has our impact on the region. We’re proud to contribute more than £1bn annually to the North East’s economy and be one of the region’s largest employers, with more than 3,200 staff working on the Airport site.
“This exhibition is just the beginning of our 90th anniversary celebrations and we are excited to mark this major milestone with our passengers, partners and local communities.”
As part of the celebrations, the Airport has also launched a dedicated website featuring more stories and milestones from its 90-year history. Find out more at ncl90.com.
