NEWCASTLE International has topped a Which? magazine readers poll as the best large airport in the UK.

The airport scored higher overall results than the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

Dave Laws, the chief executive of Newcastle International Airport, said: “This is the second year running that passengers have scored us higher than any other large airport which is great to hear. Our aim is to be the most welcoming airport in the UK, and our staff and business partners work very hard to make passenger journeys through the airport enjoyable.

“We have worked particularly hard in the main areas of customer service including security. During summer 2014 so far, we have achieved 97 per cent of customers through the security process in under 6 minutes.

“We are about to commence the main phase of a £14m transformation of the airport departure lounge. The aim of this development is to give customers a new high quality experience and greater choice. We hope customers will agree that once complete this will make the experience in 2015 even better.”