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First crew recall Jet2 arrival in Newcastle in 2005

A flight attendant who was among the first to work for a new airline 20 years ago has described how nobody thought they had a future.

Claire Burns, who was among a handful of staff employed by Jet2 when it opened its base at Newcastle Airport in 2005, said: "Everybody wondered who Jet2 was and there was lots of comments that we won't last."

The airline, which this week marked two decades in the North East, started off with one Boeing 737 serving two airports, but now operates nine aircraft to 54 airports from the region.

Newcastle Airport bosses said the airline's growth has helped progress plans to expand the terminal building and increase passenger numbers by 2040.

Ms Burns said: "A lot has changed over the years, but [there's] always been the red lipstick. Hair and makeup has always been like this, very smart."

"But 20 years later, the aircraft have changed slightly with modifications now.

"When I was crew, all the announcements had to be done manually, we had to read them out, do the demonstration and everything was manual."

Ms Burns, who has left the skies behind to become a ramp operations manager at the airport, said there was huge excitement but significant doubt ahead of the arrival of a new airline.

"But look at us now, we've taken over the airport," she said.

The airline has become the largest operator in the North East and has the largest base, employing more than 700 staff.

But Geoff Petch was the company's first worker in Newcastle, tasked with growing the airline.

"Twenty years ago we had the old big Nokia phones and no smart phones.

"Things are obviously very different today."

Leon McQuaid, director of aviation development at Newcastle Airport, said the airline had contributed to a "masterplan" for overhauling the site.

He said work was under way to increase the terminal building, while five new aircraft stands were being created to increase capacity.

"This is a huge investment," he said.

Meanwhile, Ms Burns remembers one other big difference 20 years ago.

Asked if she had to listen to the song Hold My Hand on repeat, she said: "Jess Glynne? No, she probably wasn't born when I started."

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