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Newcastle Airport has installed its first aerobridge as it prepares to open its new international terminal later this year.
The addition of the 20-metre aerobridge comes as the airport says it will open the new terminal in four months’ time. The multi-million-dollar upgrades were originally slated to be completed last year, but were delayed to this year due to “supply chain issues”.
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“This aerobridge is a physical exclamation point, pointing to exciting times of growth ahead,” said the airport’s interim chief executive, Andrew Warrender.
Among the other terminal upgrades are new, faster baggage handling infrastructure designed to support Code E and Code C aircraft; better access for pick-up and drop-off; an arrivals cafe; and upgraded bathrooms and amenities.
“Flying from Newcastle means getting more time back in your day – whether it’s skipping the M1 or spending less time in lines,” the airport said in a press release.
“In years to come, our new international terminal will be remembered as the catalyst that propelled Newcastle and the Hunter Region onto the international stage, creating more travel options, new opportunities and more jobs.”
The NSW 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.
NSW last year signed a memorandum of understanding with Newcastle Airport for two years of funding from the state’s Aviation Attraction Fund after the commencement of new routes, in order to entice carriers to launch services.
The airport has signalled it could host daily international flights, including to New Zealand and Singapore, once the upgrades are complete.
Additionally, it saw more than 4,500 responses to a July 2024 survey about the possibility of services to Perth, which would open up another connection between the east and west coasts.
Recent months, however, have seen an escalating spat between Newcastle Airport and the Newcastle Herald newspaper regarding reporting of its finances, with articles in the newspaper that claimed the airport was struggling with debt.
Newcastle lord mayor Dr Ross Kerridge last month called for an independent inquiry, saying there are “important questions about Newcastle Airport’s financial status and management that deserve proper scrutiny”.
