Hangar 9 at Teesside Airport near completion
Hangar 9 at Teesside Airport near completion
A second hangar for a growing aviation firm at Teesside Airport is nearing completion to be ready for its opening this year.
Airbourne Colours began operations at its £6.5million aircraft-painting facility at Teesside Airport in October last year.
Now, with the company’s order book full for the next two years, the firm is taking on a second aircraft paint facility – Hangar 9 – on the airport’s north side.
The new facility will be capable of accommodating narrow-body aircraft, including the Airbus A321 and Boeing 737 MAX 10.
The move marks another vote of confidence in the business park vision for Teesside Airport which has seen a string of major deals signed by Airbourne Colours, Willis Aviation and Draken securing their futures at the site.
The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority Cabinet agreed a £12.5million package for airport infrastructure earlier this year as part of a wider Investment Plan. This opened the door for work on the new facility.
And the firm has a target to see the new facility beginning operations in November this year.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It’s great to see yet more steel in the ground and even more progress at our airport. Airbourne Colours – and Steve – have been brilliant supporters of our airport since their arrival last year, and it’s wonderful to see their business thrive and create good well-paid jobs for local people right here on Steve’s home patch.
“Holiday flights are important – and to have Malaga back in its rightful place on our departure boards all year round is a huge boost. It’s also crucial we continue to attract more routes, too.
“But we’re also ramping up our business park to secure vital income for the airport through landing fees, rent, and jobs. By backing businesses in Airbourne, Willis and its new twin-bay hangar, Draken – and attracting others – we’re forging new careers and we’re laying the groundwork to attract even more international companies to our airport.”
Local firm S&A Fabrications is taking on the work on the major steel structure.
Steven Darbyshire, Founder and Chief Executive of Airbourne Colours, said: “We need a second hangar to fulfil the demand we’ve had. There’s a backlog in aircraft painting facilities in Europe so we’re building them here at Teesside Airport – and we’re expanding at Teesside Airport.
“It’s been a source of great pride to set up at Teesside Airport – to return to my roots and bring employment back to where I grew up.”
It comes after Hartlepool College of Further Education teamed up with Airbourne Colours, to offer a practical career pathway within the aviation industry through an Aircraft Painting Trainee Programme.
The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority funded the initial six-week course through the Adult Skills Fund to bring more people on board with the airport firm.
And now the 24 trainees are on site – and have been guaranteed £35,000 jobs if they complete their painting course.
Phil Forster, Teesside International Airport Managing Director, added: “We have fantastic transport links, a unique location in the heart of the UK and the benefits of Freeport status. It all means Teesside Airport Business Park offers major advantages for companies.
“We’ve already forged a brilliant partnership with Airbourne Colours and it’s wonderful to see them backing Teesside by taking on a second hangar and training up local people. With new long-term agreements at our airport, it means we’re really gaining a reputation as a viable one-stop shop for airline maintenance, repair and operations overhaul.
“I’m looking forward to operations beginning this year.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Airbourne Colours Founder and Chief Executive Steven Darbyshire