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Newcastle Airport has posted a slender increase in passenger numbers despite losing services to Sydney and Canberra after the collapse of Brindabella Airlines.
The Hunter region airport said 1.19 million travellers passed through the terminal in the 12 months to June 30 2014, up 1.2 per cent from 1.18 million in the prior corresponding period.
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Newcastle Airport chief executive Paul Hughes said the figures were encouraging.
“To record a positive growth result in the current challenging aviation domestic market is a significant achievement,” Hughes said in a statement.
More than 80 per cent of all passengers at Newcastle flew to either Brisbane or Melbourne, the airport said.
Meanwhile there was a 30 per cent increase in passenger numbers to the Gold Coast following Qantas-owned Jetstar’s boost to services to the Queensland tourist strip.
The airport lost services to Sydney and Canberra in December 2013, when Brindabella Airlines collapsed.
About 140 people lost their jobs after receivers KordaMentha was unable to find a buyer for the Canberra-based regional carrier.
Hunter-based Hansen Yuncken will shortly start work on a $14.5 million upgrade at Newcastle Airport that was expected to be finished by 2015.
Once completed, the expanded airport terminal would allow for more domestic flights, provide more space for shops and allow the airport to handle international flights.
“Our passenger numbers prove the importance of the airport as a transport hub for the region and I am looking forward to delivering a new terminal that supports our growth forecasts, benefiting the community,” Hughes said.
Ian
says:I hope that the Newcastle – Canberra direct flights are re-established sooner rather than later. I would have thought that with the Federal Government business alone (Defence / Tax / Human Services etc etc) plus commercial & private traffic would see a reasonable number of pax to justify the route.
At present it is a case of flying to / from Sydney with a REX connection (timings not great), going via Brisbane (good grief) or a combination of plane / ground transport.
random
says:Surprises me that there has been no talk thus far of services to the new Toowoomba (Brisbane West Wellcamp) airport. As the southern and northern focal points of the New England region, and with mining, education, industry and family connections it seems odd that Newcastle-Toowoomba hasn’t been prominent in discussions about routes.