Samson Aviation Services, a fixed based operation (FBO) at Newcastle International Airport has announced that it is handling around 65 per cent more jet movements than last year. The company recently had to step up security as electoral canvassing saw the likes of British politicians William Hague, Charles Kennedy and Anne Widdicombe pass through.

Geoff Davis, assistant manager at Samson said that the company was well equipped for such customers, after handling the UK Ministry of Defense since March last year and liaising extensively with special branch and airport security.

Davis said: “Charles Kennedy came through on two occasions with a full TV crew, Anne Widdicombe came through for a low profile visit and William Hague used us twice, once accompanied by Ffyon [his wife] and another time by fellow party member Sebastian Coe.” He was not keen to speculate why Widdicombe reportedly required the long-range Gulfstream IV for a domestic flight, while Hague simply used a S76 helicopter. Apart from working harder to accommodate the press, Davis said that his employees found the guests pleasant and approachable.

Samson is also benefiting from the nearby Newcastle Arena, which hosts exhibitions and

music concerts.

Celebrities passing through have included Naomi Campbell, Elle Macpherson, Chris De Burgh and Tina Turner, although Davis stresses that every customer is treated as a priority case.

The more well-known passengers aren’t always in Newcastle for business, Davis added: “A year ago Colin Montgomery chartered a jet simply to watch a Newcastle United football match.”

Davis said: ”We provide a route planning service, vip catering, accommodation, limo transfer service and customs/immigration pre-clearance.

“We work hard at encouraging people to use this side of the airport, rather than the busy north side terminals, and the charges that we levy are very comparable,” he explained.