NEWCASTLE Airport’s first direct flight to Perth took off last Monday, ending the need for Hunter travellers to drive to Sydney for westbound journeys.
The three-times weekly service, operated by a 150-seat QantasLink Airbus A319, aligns with the NSW Government’s recently announced Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which commits to improving access to and from regional NSW.
The route also supports the region’s Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO) workforce and opens up one-stop international connections via Perth to destinations across Europe, Asia and South Africa.
Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said securing direct services to Perth has been a long-term goal.
“Locals and businesses have been telling us for years they wanted this connection and with the NSW Government’s Aviation Attraction fund behind us, our team was able to turn that demand into reality,” Mr Horton said.
“The new direct to Perth service demonstrates how our new terminal will connect our 1.4 million-strong catchment with more destinations, more easily and will play a key role in delivering on the Strategy’s ambitious targets, especially the 8.5 million new airline seats and $91 billion visitor spend by 2035.”
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said, “The NSW Government was proud to work with Newcastle Airport and Qantas to secure this route through the Aviation Attraction Fund and the new connection to the west coast opens the door for more people to discover Newcastle and the Hunter.”
QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said the new service will deliver a real boost in connectivity for Newcastle residents and the mining and resource sectors.
“These flights will provide over 45,000 seats between Newcastle and Perth annually with connections on to Qantas’ extensive domestic and international networks, including new one-stop options for Newcastle residents to London and Paris via Perth,” Ms Yangoyan said.
Port Stephens Mayor and Newcastle Airport Director Leah Anderson said the launch of direct flights was a “huge win” for the Hunter tourism industry.
“For Port Stephens, this means more visitors enjoying our stunning beaches and natural beauty, which creates more business for everyone who relies on tourism.
“It’s a huge step forward for the Hunter, giving our community the kind of travel options they’ve been waiting for.”
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