Flights to and from New South Wales’ second most populated city, Newcastle, were able to resume today as authorities gained control over bush fires in the area.
Strong winds over the weekend pushed wild fire over some 1,931 hectares of land, forcing local authorities to raise emergency warnings and shut down Newcastle airport operations.
However, this morning as the NSW Rural Fire Service downgraded its advice for the area, the gateway confirmed it would resume normal operations.
Advice: Masonite Rd, Tomago fire. Work will continue today to build & strengthen containment lines with crews concentrating their efforts in the Campvale area around Richardson Rd, Grahamstown Rd & bush land to the south of Wade Close. More info: https://t.co/4CjTJ5DgMY #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/5LbByA3iHM
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) January 14, 2018
In an online statement, Newcastle Airport said flights departed and arrived as scheduled this morning.
“Newcastle Airport advises flights have resumed and we are back to normal operations following a nearby bush fire that forced the closure of the Williamtown airfield at times on Saturday and Sunday,” the statement read.
“Thankfully, the fire was downgraded overnight to a watch and act status and the Airport has reopened this morning and flights departing as scheduled.
“Additional flights have been scheduled by airlines today to help service passengers on those cancelled flights.”
Flights have resumed at Newcastle Airport today and operating as scheduled. Extra flights put on today – check you airline for details.
— Newcastle Airport (@NTLairport) January 14, 2018
This weekend has been relatively busy for the travel industry, with a plane running off the runway in Turkey and a tourist boat exploding in Thailand.
READ: Tourists injured in Thailand boat explosion
READ: Plane skids off the runway & hangs off the slide of a cliff
