Newcastle International Airport is a single terminal about 15 minutes' drive north-west of the city centre, reached from the A1 by the A696, with its own Tyne and Wear Metro station. This page covers the road routes from each direction, the Metro, buses, coaches and taxis. For drop-off charges, the free waiting zone, how early to arrive and which parking to choose, see our guide to flying from Newcastle Airport.
By car: the postcode and the last few miles
For sat-nav, the airport postcode is NE13 8BZ. If you have booked parking, use the postcode in your booking confirmation instead.
Most routes end the same way. The A1 runs around the west of Newcastle as a bypass, so you do not need to go into the city. Leave the A1 at the Kenton Bar junction and take the A696, a dual carriageway that runs north-west past the Prestwick roundabout to the airport roundabout, then follow the signs for the terminal or your car park.
The airport puts the drive at about 45 minutes from Durham or Sunderland, an hour from Darlington and two hours from Edinburgh, Leeds or York.
Routes from each direction
- From the south (Durham, Darlington, Teesside, Yorkshire): drive north on the A1. It bypasses the city centre on the western side and brings you to the Kenton Bar junction, where you join the A696 to the airport.
- From the south-east (Sunderland, South Tyneside, Teesside by the A19): you can follow the A1 as above, or take the A19 north through the Tyne Tunnel to its end at the Seaton Burn roundabout on the A1, then follow the A1 south-west to Kenton Bar. The Tyne Tunnel is tolled and takes no cash at the tunnel: pay online, in the app or at a PayPoint by midnight the day after you travel.
- From the north (Morpeth, Alnwick, Berwick): come south on the A1 and join the A696 at Kenton Bar.
- From Edinburgh and the Borders: the airport recommends the A68 and A696 as the direct route. The A696 leaves the A68 and runs south-east through Otterburn, Belsay and Ponteland to the airport, so you reach it without joining the A1.
- From the west (Carlisle, Hexham): take the A69 east to the A1, then the A1 north to Kenton Bar and the A696. From Glasgow, head south to Carlisle for the A69.
Overnight roadworks around Kenton Bar have diverted airport traffic in the past, so check National Highways for closures before an early flight.
By Metro
Airport station is the end of the line on the green line of the Tyne and Wear Metro. A covered, step-free walkway links it to the terminal.
- From Newcastle city centre: take a green line train towards the Airport from Central Station, Monument or Haymarket. The journey takes about 25 minutes.
- From Sunderland: the green line runs direct between Sunderland and the airport, taking about 55 minutes.
- From North Shields or South Shields: the green line does not serve them, so you change trains on the way; use the journey planner for the quickest connection.
The airport says trains run from about 05:30 (06:20 on Sundays) until around midnight. Buy a ticket from the machines at the station before you board, or use a Pop pay as you go card. Up to three children aged 11 and under travel free with a fare-paying adult. The Travel North East journey planner shows timetables and live departures.
Coming by main line train
There is no main line station at the airport. Take the train to Newcastle Central (TransPennine Express, for example, runs there from Edinburgh, Durham, Darlington, York and Leeds), then the Metro from the signposted station underneath. Check the first Metro before an early flight.
By bus
- 777 Northumberland Airlink (Arriva): Morpeth to Kingston Park via Ponteland and the airport, up to hourly from early until late, seven days a week. It stops right outside the terminal. At Kingston Park it stops next to the Metro station. Single tickets cost no more than £2.50.
- 787 (Go North East): an early-morning service from Wallsend through Byker, Newcastle city centre and Westerhope to the terminal, running roughly hourly in the early hours of the morning.
- 342 (Go North East): Wallsend to Kingston Park via Benton, Killingworth, Wideopen, Dinnington and the airport, stopping at the terminal.
- X77, X78 and X79 (Stagecoach): Eldon Square bus station in Newcastle to Ponteland and Darras Hall. These stop on the main road outside the airport (the B6918 Ponteland Road), not at the terminal.
Timetables change during the year, so check before you travel, especially for the 787.
By coach
National Express coaches do not stop at the airport. Their Newcastle stop is the coach station on St James Boulevard in the city centre. From there, take the Metro to the airport from a city-centre station.
By taxi
Arrow Cars is the airport's on-site taxi firm, with fixed fares, wheelchair-accessible and larger vehicles, and a booking office in the arrivals hall open 24 hours. You can book online in advance.
Once you are inside, our page on shops, food and drink at Newcastle Airport lists what is before and after security. If you are driving and staying away, compare Newcastle Airport parking for your dates.
Sorted before you fly.
