From a busy airport adding new flights to a site once at risk of closure, there’s a lot happened at Teesside Airport through the years.

In the early 2000s the airport, then Durham Tees Valley Airport, appeared to be taking off. Plans were in place for an expanded terminal which could have catered for 3 million passengers a year.

But the plans failed to materialise, and it seemed the airport may be resigned to the past when it appeared destined to close under owners Peel.

That was until the airport was taken back into public hands in 2018.

The terminal has since undergone a revamp and passenger numbers in 2022 were the highest they’d been in a decade, with more than 170,000 people passing through the terminal.

In November the airport said it had beaten those figures already for 2023, but they still fall miles short of those aspirational figures floated in the 2000s.

We’ve taken a look through the archives at the airport through the years...

The Northern Echo: The airport in 2004.The airport in 2004. (Image: ARCHIVE)

The Northern Echo: 2004: BMI announce flights to Heathrow from the airport.2004: BMI announce flights to Heathrow from the airport. (Image: ARCHIVE)

The Northern Echo: The airport car park was busy back in 2005.The airport car park was busy back in 2005. (Image: ARCHIVE)

The Northern Echo: Passengers queue at the check-in desks in 2005.Passengers queue at the check-in desks in 2005. (Image: ARCHIVE)

The Northern Echo: These passengers take a look at redevelopment plans in 2005.These passengers take a look at redevelopment plans in 2005. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

The Northern Echo: A plane takes off from the airport in 2005.A plane takes off from the airport in 2005. (Image: DAVID WOOD)

The Northern Echo: Police at the airport after the UK upped its terror threat level in 2006.Police at the airport after the UK upped its terror threat level in 2006. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

The Northern Echo: The departure board in 2006 with some currently un-served destinations.The departure board in 2006 with some currently un-served destinations. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

The Northern Echo: A relatively quiet waiting area in 2006.A relatively quiet waiting area in 2006. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

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The Northern Echo: These passengers enjoy reading The Northern Echo when it was still a broadsheet in 2006.These passengers enjoy reading The Northern Echo when it was still a broadsheet in 2006. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo: One of the world's largest cargo planes calls to Teesside in 2008.One of the world's largest cargo planes calls to Teesside in 2008. (Image: RICHARD DOUGHTY)

The Northern Echo: Passengers queue up in 2010, something that became a rare sight in the following years.Passengers queue up in 2010, something that became a rare sight in the following years. (Image: ARCHIVE)

The Northern Echo: In 2013 the airport announced it would focus on business flights rather than holiday travel in a bid to survive.In 2013 the airport announced it would focus on business flights rather than holiday travel in a bid to survive. (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)