Humberside New Maintenance Base

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Humberside Airport is turning on full thrust as a major new aircraft maintenance base – creating around 200 top engineering jobs.

A £1-million hangar is being built to repair and service fleets of modern jets from some of the world’s leading airlines. The move is a huge economic boost for the South Bank because most of the posts will be in the highly-paid quality engineering and air electronics sector – the first of its type for this region.

The project is a joint venture between North Links Aviation at the airport and Hull company Wings Aerospace, which specialises in maintenance work.

The eventual plan is to build three large hangars, the first of which is now in the final stage of construction.

It will be able to handle the shorthaul Boeing 737, the larger Boeing 757s and some varieties of the Airbus. More than 60 jobs will be generated in the initial phase, with at least 100 more expected to be added during the next two years.

The planes will be flown directly into Humberside from airports at home and abroad for engine overhaul and respraying before returning in almost mint condition.

David Francis, managing director of Wings Aerospace, said the planned launch was in early May.

He said: “Humberside is an excellent base for our operation because it is less congested and a great deal cheaper than southern airports like Stansted or Gatwick.

“And it is rarely closed through fog or other weather problems.”

With RAF bases at Waddington and Scampton and the British Aerospace factory at Brough, Wings Aerospace is close to a good source of engineering recruits.

The business, potentially worth millions of pounds a year, is a timely boost for Humberside, which is in danger of being overshadowed by its rapidly developing rival, the Robin Hood Airport, soon to open at Finningley.

Last month Irish budget airline Ryanair announced it was launching a service from it to Dublin.

Rob Goldsmith, managing director of Humberside Airport, said: “The development will enhance the diversity of activities taking place on the site and create a number of highly skilled jobs.

“We are pleased to be playing our part in this economic regeneration of the region.”