Newcastle Airport signs MoU with Destination NSW to lure new domestic and international routes

Newcastle Airport signs MoU with Destination NSW to lure new domestic and international routes
Edited by Travel Weekly


Newcastle Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding with the NSW Government’s tourism and events agency, Destination NSW, to attract new domestic and international services.

The MoU gives Newcastle Airport, currently undergoing a $250 million upgrade, funding from the state’s Aviation Attraction Fund (AAF) for two years after the commencement of new routes.

“The international terminal upgrade at Newcastle Airport will be a massive boost for tourism in the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. It will also cement NSW as the number one gateway to Australia,” NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said.

“The government is backing the people of Newcastle to maximise the opportunities of the international terminal upgrade.

“This MOU provides financial certainty to Newcastle Airport so it can attract new international and domestic airline services, helping the recovery of aviation jobs and providing a significant boost to the local visitor economy.”

NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham (left) after the Newcastle Airport MoU signing with DestinationNSW.

The NSW government expects the upgrade to bring in an additional 850,000 passengers per year, generating $6.2 billion in the local visitor economy as well as $6.5 billion in additional freight over the next 20 years. The MoU for the airport, jointly owned by the City of Newcastle and Port Stephens Council, will help it secure new agreements with airlines for international and domestic routes.

Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock said the first round of funding is “amazing” for negotiations to attract new carriers to the new “global gateway” when the upgraded international terminal opens in 2025.

“Delivering new destinations for our community is critical to us. We know that we are in competition with airports from around Australia and globally, so we applaud the NSW Government for giving us a level playing field to go out and compete,” he said.

Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said the objective of the MOU is to utilise aviation to bring “holistic economic benefits to NSW”.

“Destination NSW is committed to working with the Hunter community to prepare for and maximise the once-in-a-generation opportunity that a new international terminal and infrastructure upgrades bring,” he said.

The airport could host daily international flights, including to New Zealand and Singapore, once the upgrades are complete. Services to Perth have also been tipped.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

newcastle airport

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