The airport will be the main stage sponsor at the tyneside event which is in its tenth year and welcomed more than 70,000 revellers in 2016.

The LGBT festival will take place on July 21-23 at Newcastle Town Moor.

Newcastle Pride is the third LGBT festival that Manchester airport has given its backing to this year, with its sponsorship of Birmingham and Manchester Pride events previously announced.

Patrick Alexander, head of marketing at Manchester airport said: “We are delighted to be working with Newcastle Pride for the first time to support such a worthwhile event.

“We have sponsored other Prides in the UK and thought it was time to widen our reach to showcase the great work undertaken by Manchester airport, with many of our passengers coming from the North East.

“Especially with the new direct rail service to our train station, Manchester airport is now closer than ever for residents of Newcastle.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with the Newcastle Pride team on what I am sure will be a world class event.”

Mark Nichols, chair of Northern Pride, which organises Newcastle Pride, said: “The main stage programme is one of the most popular aspects of Newcastle Pride and without the support of Manchester airport, it wouldn’t be possible to offer the amazing array of acts we have in store.

“As it is our tenth birthday year, we’re really going all out with the line-up and we hope that people will come and enjoy everything the festival, and the North East as a whole, has to offer.

“We’re absolutely delighted that an airport as high profile as Manchester has realised the popularity of Newcastle Pride and is getting involved in what we hope will be our biggest year yet.”