<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Teesside International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para"><strong>Main article:</strong> RAF Middleton St George:The aerodrome began life in January 1941 as Royal Air Force Station Middleton St. George or RAF Goose pool as known to the locals (though it has never officially held that name). It was the most northerly of all Bomber Command airfields, home to both RAF and Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons during WWII, and exclusively RAF post-war. Bombing missions from the station included those to Berlin, Hanover, Kassel, Mannheim and Munich. Of the many military aircraft based at the aerodrome, it is best known as home to the Avro Lancaster during the war and English Electric Lightning in the 1960s. In 1957, the runway was extended to its current length of 7,516 ft (2,291m). The RAF station was closed in 1964 and the airfield sold to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The IATA code for the new airport was determined as MME, however the meaning of this is disputed. Long term employees and tenants from the 1960s claim Middleton St George Aerodrome, but because of the lack of certainty, the current management have unofficially adopted Middleton Military Establishment as a nod to the military origins. Middlesbrough Municipal Aerodrome is also often quoted. However the latter seems unlikely as the Airport is actually located in Darlington County Durham.</p>
<p class="blog-para">In the early days the airport developed a network of mainly scheduled routes, with limited inclusive tour charter flights. The destinations were consistent but the airlines were not, with British Midland, BKS Air Transport, Dan-Air, Autair and Channel Airways all coming and going before the turn of the decade. In November 1969 British Midland returned when they were awarded the license to fly the London Heathrow route, which they continued operating until 28 March 2009.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The 1970s saw a decline in regional services but a growth in holiday flights, courtesy of Northeast Airlines (a rebranded BKS Air Transport) and Britannia Airways, as well as overseas operators such as Aveco, Span tax and Aviogenex amongst others.</p>
<p class="blog-para">There are also three multinational defines contractors based on site, Darken Europe provide electronic countermeasure and aggressor training to the MoD using a fleet of Assault Falcon 20 and Aero L-159E ALCA aircraft, and built a new hangar in 2022 to accommodate the latter. Serco operate their International Fire Training Centre, one of the largest in Europe, on the airports south side and Thales have their calibration and flight inspection subsidiary based with a Beech King Air and Diamond DA42 Twin Star.</p>
<p class="blog-para">US firm Willis Lease Finance Corporation subsidiary Willis Asset Management operate out of Hangar 2 at the airport and carry out maintenance and storage of a wide variety of commercial aircraft. Two further subsidiaries have since moved in, Willis Aviation Services are a ground handling company and Jet Centre by Willis now run the airports business aviation centre.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Two Boeing 727's owned by 2Excel Aviation and operating on behalf of Oil Spill Response Limited were relocated to Teesside Airport from Don Caster Sheffield Airport in November 2022. The aircraft are deployed anywhere in the world in the event of a major oil spill to spray dispersant material.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History Teesside International Airport" src="https://www.jodogoairportassist.com/main/img/airport/tees/t.webp" alt="History Teesside International Airport"></p>