AIRPORT bosses have vowed to bring more services to the region after seeing the lure of Belgium and Ireland help increase passenger numbers.

Newcastle Airport welcomed 4.56 million people last year, with new services to Brussels and Dublin pivotal to elevating international traffic by 18 per cent.

The lift, supported by rises across Air France, KLM and Emirates flights, helped hoist total revenues from £50m to £51.2m.

Reacting to the figures, covering the 12 months to December 31, officials have now promised to push for more North-East services, saying they are talking to airlines to maintain the airport’s momentum.

Acknowledging the strength of business travel in its success, they also outlined plans to complete an upgrade of its departure lounge.

A report said: “Passenger numbers in the year were 100,000 ahead of the previous year at 4.56 million, with scheduled international traffic growing 18 per cent, benefiting from new services to Brussels and Dublin with BMI Regional and Aer Lingus Regional respectively.

“We continue to work closely with airline partners in order to stimulate growth in services, and consequently passengers, in future years.

“Improving economic conditions in the UK and the North-East in particular, have helped, with business travel helping growth in hub traffic volumes.

“Though we are somewhat exposed to the strength of the North-East economy, good growth in the region will help support overall growth in passenger numbers.

“Passenger facilities will be enhanced in 2015, with the completion of the departure lounge, which will deliver improved catering and retail space, adding to the existing Beer House and Flying Hippo diner.”

The report also revealed operating profits at the airport, which this month started direct flights to New York, increased six per cent to £17.6m in the year, with pre-tax profits higher at £16.5m.

It added international services were supplemented by a 24 per cent increase in low-cost domestic passenger volumes, helped by the start of EasyJet services to Gatwick, though a drop in Ryanair flights caused budget international numbers to fall two per cent.

However, despite the assurance over more flights, officials did issue a note of caution, pointing to potential weaker demand and the increased cost of fuel and air passenger duty (APD), with traveller totals expected to remain somewhat stagnant in 2015.

The report said: “Weaker demand for flying poses a risk to future growth.

“That may come from a number of factors, including underlying economic conditions and increased flight prices, which themselves are driven from input price increases, such as the cost of fuel and APD.

“Due to changes in other schedules at the airport, static levels of passenger numbers are anticipated in 2015.”

According to latest provisional figures from the Civil Aviation Authority, Newcastle Airport welcomed 330,828 passengers on 3,275 flights last month.

The statistics also showed Durham Tees Valley Airport had 12,208 flyers in April, from 335 flights.