TODAY marks the day Teesside Airport was officially renamed two years ago, signalling the end of a controversial and largely unloved name.

The 'Durham Tees Valley Airport' branding was stripped from the building on July 25, 2019 as the airport's original name was dusted off and brought back into use.

At the time, an overwhelming majority - a tremendous 93 percent of residents and airport passengers - said they would support a drastic move to take the airport back to its former title.

Read more: Lengthy rights dispute ends as airport is officially renamed Teesside International Airport

Since then the airport has gone through a raft of changes, including a massive multi-million pound refurbishment and the shock return of a low-cost carrier.

But there has also been a few bumps along the way, including a controversial decision to scrap free parking and a recent proposal to give the airport an extra £10m in taxpayers' cash.

So two years on, The Northern Echo is looking back at some of the good (and not so good) milestones that has been achieved at Teesside Airport. 

Five-year deal signed with KLM

In June last year, the airport signed a deal with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, securing flights to Amsterdam for at least the next five years.

The flights, which are mainly used by business and growing with leisure travellers, now provide a link between the airport and more than 100 destinations globally. 

TUI agrees to return for 2022 flights 

Formerly known as Thomson Airways, TUI signed a deal with the airport back in October 2020 for flights from Teesside Airport.

TUI, which previously operated out of the airport as Durham Tees Valley, is now expected to return for weekly flights to Palma in Majorca from summer next year.

Low-cost carrier Ryanair signs up 

In November last year, Ryanair confirmed it would return after a twelve-year hiatus with flights to four destinations, Palma, Alicante, Corfu and Faro. 

Those flights officially started with the first taking off to Palma on June 1, although six flights had to be cancelled in July due to demand affected by Covid restrictions.

Daily service launched to London Heathrow 

Earlier this year, Loganair began its new route between Teesside Airport and London Heathrow.

Getting off to a bumpy start, the first flight of its new daily service had to be cancelled due to low passenger numbers. However, it is understood that demand later picked up.

Huge refurbishment and complete overhaul of departure lounge

The first major refurbishment in years, the airport saw its terminal building completely overhauled with a new departure lounge, check-in area, landslide cafe, security hall, pub, two private lounges and duty-free. 

More than £3m was spent on the refurbishment, which the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said would help to "attract" more customers and bring it up to the modern standard required.

Darlington firms (and duty free) move into terminal building

Darlington-based House of Zana and Rejoy boutique both opened up inside the newly-created retail space which was formerly closed off under the airport's previous owners, Peel.

That came as the airport recently announced the major airport brand, World Duty Free would be opening up in the terminal - the first time in several years. 

Pub returns and is named by the public

In February, the airport launched a competition to name a new pub that would be opening within the departure lounge.

The Goosepool was chosen after a public vote saw hundreds choose the name, which paid tribute to its historical links, and when locals called the airport RAF Goosepool.

Free parking is scrapped as charges re-introduced

The airport attracted criticism last month as it quietly scrapped a three-hour free parking offer, replacing it with a £2.50 charge for just 15 minutes.

The move, which prompted some to hit out as some called it "outrageous," was defended as airport bosses said the cost remained the most competitive in the region.

The airport celebrated 80 years as an airport

The airport was born in January 1941, when the airfield for the World War Two bomber base, then named RAF Middleton St George, was opened.

The airport had been celebrating throughout the year by sharing “Then and Now” photographs, asking people to share memories and displaying key items of memorabilia. 

Criticism as Airport to get an extra £10m of public money

Plans to see the airport given an extra £10m of cash emerged as the Tees Valley Combined Authority said it was needed to help it "stay on track" for its recovery plan.

Labour MP Alex Cunningham hit back saying it could have been invested elsewhere, while Mr Houchen defended this and said the aviation industry had been hardest hit.

Viewing platform agreed to make return by the end of year 

​A hugely-popular feature of days gone by, the viewing platform will make a return with the current viewing area overhauled.

The Northern Echo this year revealed that an "elevated" platform would make a return by the end of the year. 

What Teesside Airport has said two years on 

A spokesperson for Teesside Airport said: "During another sunny July in 2019, the Durham Tees Valley sign that adorned the front of a forgotten airport, was replaced with its former name Teesside International Airport and the journey to return it to its former airport glory begun.

"Despite a challenging 18 months which followed with the global pandemic, Teesside International Airport didn’t slam the brakes on, but rather delivered on its promise to make the airport fly again

"It’s not only the name that’s changed since 25 July 2019, there has been lots of improvements to the airport since, to benefit passengers from across the North East and Yorkshire."

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