Millions of pounds will be spent on upgrading facilities

The airport, already enjoying rocketing passenger levels, has published a master plan to chart its progress until 2016.

The plans, which include runway improvements as well as a string of commercial developments, will be the subject of a five-month consultation exercise.

Among the ambitious plans, airport bosses want to revamp terminals, improve runway and taxiway facilities, relocate the traffic control tower and provide more car parking.

More hotels and at least one petrol station are also being proposed.

Living standards

Graeme Mason, the airport's planning and property manager, said: "The aim is to accommodate future growth in passenger numbers, freight and airport services, while taking living standards of local residents into account, as well as the local environment and road networks.

"In addition to improving the experience and service for the millions of travellers already using Newcastle International Airport every year, the development initiatives are forecast to have wider economic benefits for the whole region.

"In new employment opportunities alone, at least 3,500 new jobs are expected to be generated on-site and many more are likely to be created in new business and commercial projects across the North East.

Competitive position

"Newcastle is the main airport for the North East and has experienced sustained growth over the past 10 years.

"Forecasts indicate that growth will continue and we expect to reach 9.5 million passengers per annum by 2016.

"It is vital that we plan for that growth and maintain the competitive position of the airport in the longer term.

"But that cannot happen in isolation - we have to work with our local community as well as meet all regulatory authority requirements placed on us."

The airport has recently attracted budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair and with them millions of extra passenger journeys.