In the Air - Summer 2007

Tiger Airways roars into Newcastle Airport

Tiger Airways has selected Newcastle Airport as its only New South Wales destination, announcing twice daily flights to Melbourne commencing 18 January 2008. 

The announcement is a vote of confidence for Newcastle Airport and the region.  The airline will provide competition to the existing airlines servicing the airport, boost local tourism and provide local employment opportunities. 

The introduction of Tiger Airways will provide an additional 5,000 seats on the Newcastle-Melbourne route each week and, as of June, increase the number of daily flights from seven to nine. 

Newcastle Airport joins a suite of Australian airports who are already in the Tiger ambush including Melbourne, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Mackay, Launceston, Perth, Alice Springs, Darwin, Canberra and Hobart. 

For more information on Tiger Airways, visit www.tigerairways.com 

More parking. More choices.

Car parking at Newcastle Airport has never been more convenient.  The introduction of half hour car parking in our Gold, Silver and Bronze Car Parks means you can park your car when you drop-off and pick-up passengers and only pay for the time you use.

If you will be parking at the Airport for an extended period, why not calculate how much your car parking will be with the car parking calculator on our website?

Paying for your parking is easy too.  Skip the parking payment machine lines inside the terminal and pay for parking when you exit the car park.  Insert your parking ticket followed by your credit card (you will be automatically issued with a receipt).  Its that easy. 

$10 million tarmac construction on schedule

Those who have visited the Airport in the last couple of months would have noticed a lot of activity next to the existing tarmac.  This activity is set to continue into the new year with the construction of the $10 million tarmac expansion on schedule for completion late February 2008. 

The expansion will increase the Airport’s capacity to handle medium sized aircraft as well as larger aircraft such as a Boeing 787 or an Airbus 330. 

The tarmac expansion is the first of three stages of planned infrastructure development which also includes an extension of the terminal building and the construction of a multi-level car park.  

Did you know?
The official aviation term for tarmac is apron. 

Local primary schools decorate the terminal for Christmas

Eight local primary schools have used their creative flair to decorate festive banners for display at Newcastle Airport during the Christmas season.  

The children, who had all participated in the Newcastle Airport Schools Program during the year, were asked to depict their idea of Christmas at an airport.  The banners provide a friendly welcoming message to the 90,000 passengers arriving and departing at Newcastle Airport during December. 

October the busiest month ever at Newcastle Airport

The continuous growth of Newcastle Airport reached new heights in October when the Airport smashed the 90,000 monthly passenger mark, accommodating a record 93,380 passengers during the month.  This was an increase of 6,454 passengers compared with September, the previous record month. 

The record figure has been attributed to the October school holidays combined with an inbound tourism campaign supported by Virgin Blue and Tourism New South Wales.

The Airport’s 20-year plan

In early September, Newcastle Airport launched a Master Plan which provides the framework for infrastructure and development growth for the next 20 years.  

The Master Plan identifies key aviation and non-aviation growth areas that will enhance the Airport’s contribution to the economy and region.  Planned growth includes tarmac and terminal expansion, the development of a multi-storey car park, as well as the development of land for an aerospace business park. 

Newcastle Airport CEO, Paul Hughes, says the Plan focuses on domestic passenger growth, the growth of international services, the establishment of new precincts for aircraft maintenance and a business park for airport and aerospace related business. 
Click here to download the Newcastle Airport Master Plan. 

Celebrating 60 years of commercial aviation at Newcastle Airport

Next year Newcastle Airport will celebrate 60 years of commercial aviation at the Airport.  On 20 February 1948 the first commercial aircraft landed at what is now known as Newcastle Airport.  Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) brought Newcastle into its network with a seven-day DC3 aircraft service with all planes flying between Sydney and Brisbane stopping-over at Williamtown. 

From these humble beginnings, Newcastle Airport is now serviced by six airlines (seven in January) to nine destinations.