County Durham planes

Airport advice overview

Teesside International Airport is the main airport in County Durham. The airport is home to major airlines with routes to other airports in the UK and worldwide. The airport is fully accessible to people with disabilities. 

Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility are legally entitled to support, commonly known as ‘Special Assistance’. Airports and airlines must provide help and assistance, which is free of charge and helps ensure you have a less stressful journey.

Special Assistance is available to passengers who may need help to travel, such as older people, those with a physical disability, including wheelchair users, and those who experience difficulty with social interaction and communication, such as people with autism or dementia.

Key tips

Always allow plenty of time to plan your journey.  It may be worth considering: 

• If you will need help whilst in the airport and on the plane. Will you be travelling with mobility equipment?
• Booking Special Assistance in advance through your airline or tour operator. Make sure you provide at least 48hrs notice of any help you need.
• When booking Special Assistance, you should be able to provide the size of your mobility equipment, including the total weight with or without the user.
• What local transport do you need once you arrive at your destination? Can you pre-book an accessible taxi?
• Remember that your local Hubs Mobility Advice Service can signpost you to the correct travel operator and mobility organisations.

Nearest airport

Teesside International Airport

https://www.teessideinternational.com/

Disabled parking

The car park at Teesside International Airport is not far from the terminal and there is a row of dedicated disabled parking spaces for Blue Badge holders at the front of the car park. They are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so you are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment. 

If you need help with luggage or mobility equipment, or transferring to the airport terminal, you can arrange assistance in advance by calling 01325 331072. 

You can also call for assistance once in the car park, by calling the number displayed on signage or a designated help point.

Special assistance

Teesside International Airport has a lift and ramp access to most areas of the building.

If you are disabled or have restricted mobility, there is a dedicated Special Assistance team at the airport who can arrange the extra help you need. You should specify your requirements with your airline or tour operator when you book your flight, so that assistance can be arranged.

You can find more details via the link here.

 You may wish to arrange assistance with the following:

• Lifting baggage and equipment in and out of your vehicle
• Getting to and from the car park to the terminal 
• Moving around the airport 
• Checking in 
• Registering, dropping off or picking up baggage 
• Accessing the disabled toilet facilities 
• Getting on and off the plane. (There is an Ambulift, if appropriate) 

If you were unable to request assistance when you booked your flight, you should contact the airport directly prior to departure on 01325 331055. 

Travelling with mobility equipment

Passengers travelling on an aircraft with a mobility aid, such as a scooter or wheelchair, must advise their airline, tour operator or travel agent in advance, preferably at the time of booking.

You should provide details which outline the dimension, weight, make and model, manufacturer and battery type. Plus, instructions of how to disable your mobility equipment, along with the date and flight number of travel.

You will be able to travel with your mobility aid from your arrival at the airport up until the point of boarding the aircraft. 

The ground handling team will ensure your mobility aid is made safe for carriage on the plane. You or a person in your travelling party may be required to liaise with the team to ensure the mobility aid is immobilised.

You will be reunited with your mobility aid at the aircraft side after disembarking. In the unlikely event there is any damage to your mobility equipment, the airport’s Special Assistance team will make every effort to provide you with a temporary replacement.

Assistance Dogs

You may take your Assistance dog into the terminal with you. It is important to remember that guide dogs can only travel if they are registered with the Pet Travel Scheme and if allowed by your airline and holiday destination. 

For further information on travelling with an assistance dog, visit the dedicated webpage on the Gov.uk website.