Teesside Airport secures FedEx air freight contract

FedEx said the airport had "excellent transport links" to the north of England

A global shipping company is moving its cargo operations from Newcastle to Teesside Airport.

FedEx's relocation will see an extra eight weekly flights to and from the facility near Darlington.

Up to 89 tonnes (196,000 lbs) of goods would be transported each week, with operational work due to begin in June, the airport said.

Alun Cornish, from FedEx, said the site was "the perfect location". Newcastle Airport declined to comment.

Mr Cornish added: "We are seeing increasing import and export demand to and from the region, so our presence here will enable us to get goods to our customers faster."

The company has also signed a new five-year lease for its road operation, which is already based at the airport in Middleton St George.

The agreement comes after millions of pounds of investment from private companies at the site which is expected to generate thousands of jobs, the airport said.

Managing director Phil Forster said the deal was "another big leap forward" in attempts to make the airport sustainable for the long term.

"This new partnership is a brilliant and significant step into the cargo market, and is a sign of things to come at Teesside Airport," he said.