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FlyPelican is moving to compete with Jetstar on a Newcastle–Gold Coast service.
The regional airline will operate early-morning flights with its 19-seat Jetstream 32 turboprop aircraft four days per week, departing at 7am from Newcastle on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. While Jetstar operates a daily service, it only offers afternoon and nighttime departures.
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The new service is scheduled to begin on 24 March.
“FlyPelican are thrilled to expand our network, with our focus on getting local people where they need to go,” airline CEO Marty Hawley said.
“We are now filling a key gap for travellers to and from the Gold Coast that are in need of a morning departure.”
Andrew Warrender, interim CEO of Newcastle Airport, has welcomed the new morning services, which he says will be good for the local business community.
“The early morning departure times are particularly beneficial for business travellers, aligning perfectly with our commitment to enhancing connectivity for the Hunter region,” he said.
“We’re excited to see this route take off and contribute to the continued growth of both Newcastle and Gold Coast airports.”
Gold Coast Airport, which saw its busiest ever year for domestic travel in 2024, says the FlyPelican service will boost capacity, with the existing Jetstar service already bringing in more than 100,000 annual passengers.
“We welcome around 110,000 passengers through our terminal each year on flights to and from Newcastle, so these new services will provide them with more choice,” she said.
“The convenience these new flights offer will help drive business opportunities, enhancing economic growth across the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales.”
Newcastle is preparing to open its redeveloped international terminal this year, which was delayed from the end of 2024 but is expected to open in the second quarter of 2025. The final roof beam was placed on the terminal in October, marking a major milestone.
The airport has said it could see daily international flights when the new terminal is up and running, as well as the potential for non-stop services to Perth.
The airport also signed a memorandum of understanding with the NSW government last year which will see it given funding from the state’s Aviation Attraction Fund (AAF) to attract and maintain new routes.
The state government expects Newcastle Airport’s $250 million upgrade to bring in 850,000 additional passengers per year, generating $6.2 billion in the visitor economy as well as $6.5 billion in additional freight over the next 20 years.
