Newcastle Airport has marked the busiest quarter in its history following the opening of its new terminal and the launch of expanded domestic and international services.
During the months of October to December 2025, a total of 340,778 passengers traveled through the upgraded terminal, including 111,007 in December alone. The airport now says it expects 1.334 million passengers by the end of the 2025-26 financial year.
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“In a case of ‘build it and they will come,’ Hunter is demonstrating that the new terminal and increased connectivity is exactly what the region ordered,” said airport CEO Linc Horton.
“Passenger demand continues to exceed expectations and this record quarter highlights Hunter’s readiness for more direct international services.
“We have the terminal, the infrastructure and the basin. To help achieve state and federal tourism targets, what we need now is a strategic partnership from both governments to help unlock the next wave of air connectivity for the Greater Hunter and our extended basin.”
Newcastle opened its new terminal in September last year ahead of the launch of its first year-round international route, a Jetstar service to Bali. The airport has also attracted new domestic services, including Hobart and Perth, and a link to Singapore via Denpasar is expected this year.
According to Bob Hawes, CEO of Business Hunter, these new connections are “redefining” regional air travel and allowing Hunter residents to fly more widely without having to go through Sydney.
“These connections make it easier for local businesses to access new and existing markets and for our community to explore the world from their own backyard,” he said.
“The growth we are seeing is exactly what the region needs, and the growing number of passengers through Newcastle Airport benefits the local businesses that operate and serve the precinct.
“The airport’s growth and development ambitions are supported by stakeholders across the region and the passenger statistics only increase the confidence we all have in the future.”
The airport has now proposed a five-year co-funded “Newcastle Airport Aviation Accelerated Growth Fund” to the New South Wales government, saying it would unlock an additional one million seats a year in the state.
“Designed to directly support the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 target of 8.5 million new aircraft seats, the program will accelerate domestic and international connectivity in the Hunter, stimulating visitor growth, regional investment and job creation,” the airport said.
“At a federal level, Newcastle Airport is focusing on supporting the safe and scalable expansion of international operations, supporting Australia’s sovereign capacity, pursuing sustainability through greener air travel and acting to close the gap in the region’s logistics network.”
Last year, the NSW Government launched a $12.5 million “NSW Take-Off Fund” to support the growth of the state’s commercial aviation sector.
