A 96-year-old Geordie is celebrating more than half a century of holidays with TUI as she gets set to jet off to Benidorm with her family from Newcastle airport.
Connie Mclauchlin, from Ponteland, has been using the airline for around 55 years and in that time has visited dozens of popular destinations with her husband, John, and pals.
The couple have enjoyed trips ranging from Alicante to Zante and were even on the very first flight from Newcastle to Orlando in 1992. However, Connie told Chronicle Live that her favourite destination has to be Italy's Amalfi Coast.
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"I’ve been using TUI for about 55 years," she said.
"I love to fly with TUI because they have good flight times and great hotels. They are reliable, have fair pricing and provide a great, all-round service.
"In recent years I’ve always flown from Newcastle and I have holidayed together with my husband, John, and with friends. I’ve also done many trips with my girlfriends.
"Destinations we’ve travelled to include; Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Lanzarote, Tenerife and Faro, Corfu, Crete, Rhodes, Zante, Cyprus, Naples, Verona, Rome, Malta and Madrid."
And there's no stopping the enthusiastic holidaymaker, as she gets set to go on her 50th TUI holiday to Benidorm with her family later this month. Her latest trip is being paid for by TUI as the airline celebrates a milestone anniversary of its own - 60 years of flying from Newcastle International Airport.
Richard Sofer, commercial and business development director at TUI, said: "It is fantastic to meet people like Connie. She is going on her 50th holiday with us in just over a week's time.
"I love that families grow up having their holidays with TUI and travelling through Newcastle International Airport. They love going on that holiday and that is what we are here to do. That is our purpose and is what makes us happy."
In 1962, TUI, which was known at the time as Sky Tours, announced the first package holiday from Newcastle International Airport to Benidorm. Since then it has grown enormously throughout the years to its current standing as the UK’s largest holiday company.
TUI boss Richard said it was "fantastic to be celebrating" 60 years at Newcastle International Airport and said the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and Turkey are the favourite destinations of North East passengers.
Looking back at how the airline industry has changed over the last 60 years, Richard said major changes include the smoking ban being introduced on flights and the increased efficiency of planes.
"Back in the 60s it used to only be the affluent few that could afford to travel, but now, one of the things that we strive to do, whilst working with partners like Newcastle International Airport, is to make holidays affordable and give a breadth of choice. I think that has been a real success story over the last 60 years."
He continued: “We’re delighted to be celebrating this significant milestone with Newcastle International Airport. From the early days when we operated to a small number of destinations like Benidorm, to now where we fly to 27 holiday hotspots, it’s fantastic to see the evolution of this important partnership."
Leon McQuaid, director of aviation development at Newcastle International Airport, said people in the "North East love their holidays" and the airport is committed to working with airlines like TUI to make it a fantastic experience for passengers.
"TUI and Newcastle airport are really focused on customer service and I think that has driven a lot of loyalty," he said.
"TUI staff on the first Florida flight were putting flags on the chairs and going that extra mile for customers for that whole journey. It is about creating unforgettable moments for those customers."
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