While the future Western Sydney Airport, understandably, hogs a lot of headlines, another NSW airport is gearing up for its own international flights – and it’ll likely beat WSI to the punch.
Marking the start of construction of a new international terminal at Newcastle Airport (NTL), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese helped turn the first sod at an official ground-breaking ceremony for the Hunter hub on Thursday.
Newcastle Airport says the expansion of NTL will not just up capacity at the airport, but improve efficiency and the overall user experience.
The terminal is due for completion in mid to late 2024.
“Aviation is a catalyst to our economy’s growth and our region’s transition,” Newcastle Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock said.
“Newcastle Airport is committed to growing the airport the region deserves. As the sixth largest economy in the country, the people of our region are passionately behind our airport and connecting the Hunter to the rest of the world.
“I would like to thank the Prime Minister and all the Albanese Government for their ongoing support and commitment to our vision for Newcastle Airport.”
On social media, the PM said, “Newcastle and the Hunter region is a gorgeous part of Australia”.
“And we’re getting them ready for more visitors by upgrading the international terminal,” he added.
“It’ll be world class, and will mean thousands more travellers a year can come to this beautiful part of the world.”
According to the ABC, the PM stated that “Novocastrians are great travellers, and it [the new airport] will provide an opportunity for them to travel to other parts of Australia and to the world”.
“This $55 million investment is a vote of confidence in Newcastle and the Hunter, and this region,” he said.
“In this region we can be the powerhouse of new energy, we can be the powerhouse of advanced manufacturing, we can as well be a powerhouse of tourism.”
Planned links
When it comes to possible international destinations, nonstop flights to several hubs in Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific are all part of its plans.
Among the potential routes “taking off soon” are Bali, Singapore, Auckland, Fiji and Vanuatu, while “departing in the near future” are direct flights to Japan, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East.
New domestic destinations on the cards include Darwin, Perth, Hobart and Launceston.
While the airport is “working on” developing connections, nothing has yet been confirmed. And the new routes would depend on airlines committing to the new terminal, the ABC reported.
Newcastle Airport Executive General Manager of Marketing and Communication, Burcak Sezar, said the Newcastle Airport team and designer Cox Architects have developed a terminal that “incorporates the sand dunes, our beaches, and the iconic Hunter Valley in the design and colours”.
“The new terminal is also deliberately inclusive, from including the stories of the Worimi people, to welcoming people with disabilities,” she said.
“We want people in our airport to know they are in Newcastle Airport. We want the people of the Hunter to feel that this is our airport and use it with pride.
“And we’re confident this unique design achieves that and delivers a stress-free experience for passengers.”
Newcastle Airport Board chair Jude Monroe said the NTL expansion would enhance Newcastle as NSW’s second city.
“The second cities are incredibly important. The Gold Coast to Brisbane, Newcastle to Sydney, Geelong to Melbourne too,” she remarked.
“It means the transport connection will be enhanced. It enables better networking of cities in a global sense.”
“We are growing the airport this region deserves.”
In April, NTL revealed the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) as the sole financier of the new international terminal at the hub.
