Aviation company to create "significant number" of jobs as Teesside is chosen for European base

A global aviation company has announced that it will be creating a “significant number” of jobs at its new North East maintenance base.

Willis Asset Management has chosen Teesside International Airport as its location for a European aircraft maintenance base.

After considering a number of possible locations across the continent the company has agreed to lease Hangar 1 and Hangar 1A as a base to allow it to house aircraft and parts while carrying out maintenance, storage and disassembly of a wide variety of commercial aircraft types.

Phase 1 of the development could see the creation of approximately 20 highly skilled engineering and management jobs.

The deal includes further opportunity for expansion in Phase 2, with the possible development of additional hangar facilities and additional jobs.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen commented: “This is a fantastic coup for our airport, with Willis choosing Teesside ahead of other locations across Europe thanks to all of the benefits we currently offer, and our future plans.

“We’ve already secured new routes, but I’ve always said that it’s not just about delivering affordable flights to popular destinations – we need to support business and drive investment.

“Now we’ve secured the investment of a global aviation firm to help us deliver on our ambitions for the airport.

“Alongside the new state-of-the-art logistics and manufacturing park on the airport’s Southside, this development will act as a catalyst for even more success and shows we’re getting noticed by leading businesses on an international scale.

“When I bought the airport and saved it from closure, people said what I wanted to achieve couldn’t be done.

“Well, we are doing it and, even in these most difficult of times we are attracting investment and jobs to this vital piece of infrastructure for our region.”

Garry Failler, senior vice president and chief technical officer, Willis Lease Finance Corporation, added: “We’ve been very impressed with how quickly things have progressed at Teesside International Airport and their forward-thinking, as well as their drive to attract business from outside of the region.

“We see significant potential in the market segment at Teesside and we are excited to start working with the airport and its partners going forward.”

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