iscover
Newcastle Airport has hit back at local media once more over what it says are inaccurate claims about its financial viability.
The airport has again rejected reporting by the Newcastle Herald that it is in financial trouble after an article claimed it had been forced to “go cap in hand” to Defence asking to have its rent excused but was knocked back.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
An unnamed insider cited by the Herald said the government had “come to the party very generously twice” since 2021, with $66 million for a runway upgrade and $55 million for an overhaul of the airport’s international terminal.
“You can’t just keep asking for more or expect to be bailed out,” the insider said.
“It makes no sense that after being given more than $120 million, you would stick your hand out again so soon and think it is going to be well received. I don’t know whose idea it was, but it wasn’t a good one.”
However, for at least the second time since October, the airport in a statement decried the reporting on its financial position as both unfair and inaccurate.
“We are deeply disappointed in the Newcastle Herald’s continued, alarmist and inaccurate reporting about Newcastle Airport’s financial status. The story contains information from old documents and sources that are not named and not verified,” a spokesperson said.
“We offered Newcastle Herald a briefing last year to answer any questions they had – the Herald has not taken up this offer to date. This is another occasion where the Herald has published claims that have not been put to Newcastle Airport prior to publication.
“We are deeply concerned about the many inaccuracies in the article, for example the false claim that passenger numbers are falling when in fact these are in growth. It appears to be part of a repeated approach of the Herald to deliberately attempt to damage the reputation of a publicly owned regional asset.
“We completely refute the claims around financial viability. Newcastle Airport is looking forward to delivering new regional capability for the Hunter in 2025, with the new international terminal opening as planned later in the year.”
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 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.
