International Newcastle Airport flights announced: Bali here we come
WILLIAMTOWN is officially the Hunter's gateway to the world, with Newcastle Airport securing its first ongoing international service beyond Australasia.
Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar in Bali from October 21, linking the region to one of the country's most popular holiday destinations and enabling direct connections from there to more than 40 countries.
The service will be formally announced on Tuesday morning.
Bali-bound flights are planned to leave Newcastle at 9.30am on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from October 21 to land at 1.05pm Indonesian time.
Return voyages are slated to depart Denpasar at 11.10pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the first week. From October 27 they are poised to leave at 10.20pm. They will arrive at 8.05am and 7.15am the next day, respectively.
Newcastle Airport chief executive Linc Horton said the route's arrival "shows what the Hunter is capable of when we aim high".
"We're proud to be delivering what our region has long asked for ... direct international flights from their local airport," he said.
"Jetstar has been part of Newcastle Airport's story from the very beginning, and it's only fitting that they're the airline to take us into our international future.
"Our long-term plan is to grow our international network, and we are working behind the scenes with several airlines about additional routes we may be able to provide."
Newcastle will be Jetstar's tenth route to Bali.
The new service will take slightly more than six hours and is scheduled to operate three times a week.
The A321LR aircraft will provide more than 70,000 seats annually on the route.
Jetstar Group chief executive Stephanie Tully described the route as an "exciting milestone".
"Jetstar is committed to making travel more accessible, and people living in and around Newcastle will no longer need to drive to other airports to fly overseas, which means more time and money can go toward their holiday," she said.
While the Port Stephens hub has previously flown to New Zealand directly, that service has been available only seasonally.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said it was "a historic moment" and paid tribute to the contributions of the two councils, Port Stephens and Newcastle, that co-own the airport.
"This means a lot to the people of Port Stephens and the Hunter," she said.
"Becoming an international airport isn't easy, there are a whole lot of people who have pushed for this for years."
Jude Munro, the Newcastle Airport chair, thanked Jetstar for its show of faith.
"Newcastle Airport will continue to secure new domestic and international routes for the region and grow as a significant gateway for international travel in NSW," she said.
"We look forward to working with all levels of government to be the airport our region deserves."
Newcastle Airport's $250 million international terminal expansion is slated for completion in August 2025.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper, whose government is backing the service through its Aviation Attraction Fund, said the route would boost the airport's capacity and "open the Hunter and the Mid-North Coast to a major South-East Asian transport hub and a wealth of opportunity".
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the new link was "just the beginning".
"This is a game changer for the Hunter," Ms Catley said.
"We're not just opening the door to Bali - we're opening our region up to the world.
"With more direct international flights, we're positioning the Hunter as a tourism Mecca. It's about making it easier for the people who live here to explore the world and for the world to discover everything we have here."
News of the Bali flights comes just days after the airport revealed it would fly direct to Perth three times a week from September this year.
The flurry of announcements follows a period of expansion at the Williamtown site, including the construction of the new international terminal. A Newcastle Herald investigation previously revealed the airport had been in discussions with councils to access a financial injection of up to $40 million, and had been working to rein in spending and pay off escalating debt amid its expansion.
The airport has repeatedly denied any financial problems and says it has more than tripled its investment over the past decade.
It said revenue across passenger facilitation and property and commercial activities was $42 million this financial year.
Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson acknowledged the federal government's $121 million investment in delivering international capability. She said she was excited that the council's ownership of the expanded airport could pay off handsomely for ratepayers.
"This asset is going to be so important for us as a council," she said.
"When shareholder dividends return, we've got lots of plans for that money."
Cr Anderson said she had been to Bali "on quite a few occasions" but was looking forward to avoiding the trip to Sydney to depart.
"Bags are packed, I'm ready to go," she said.
WILLIAMTOWN is officially the Hunter's gateway to the world, with Newcastle Airport securing its first ongoing international service beyond Australasia.
Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar in Bali from October 21, linking the region to one of the country's most popular holiday destinations and enabling direct connections from there to more than 40 countries.
The service will be formally announced on Tuesday morning.
Bali-bound flights are planned to leave Newcastle at 9.30am on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from October 21 to land at 1.05pm Indonesian time.
Return voyages are slated to depart Denpasar at 11.10pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the first week. From October 27 they are poised to leave at 10.20pm. They will arrive at 8.05am and 7.15am the next day, respectively.
Newcastle Airport chief executive Linc Horton said the route's arrival "shows what the Hunter is capable of when we aim high".
"We're proud to be delivering what our region has long asked for ... direct international flights from their local airport," he said.
"Jetstar has been part of Newcastle Airport's story from the very beginning, and it's only fitting that they're the airline to take us into our international future.
"Our long-term plan is to grow our international network, and we are working behind the scenes with several airlines about additional routes we may be able to provide."
Newcastle will be Jetstar's tenth route to Bali.
The new service will take slightly more than six hours and is scheduled to operate three times a week.
The A321LR aircraft will provide more than 70,000 seats annually on the route.
Jetstar Group chief executive Stephanie Tully described the route as an "exciting milestone".
"Jetstar is committed to making travel more accessible, and people living in and around Newcastle will no longer need to drive to other airports to fly overseas, which means more time and money can go toward their holiday," she said.
While the Port Stephens hub has previously flown to New Zealand directly, that service has been available only seasonally.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said it was "a historic moment" and paid tribute to the contributions of the two councils, Port Stephens and Newcastle, that co-own the airport.
"This means a lot to the people of Port Stephens and the Hunter," she said.
"Becoming an international airport isn't easy, there are a whole lot of people who have pushed for this for years."
Jude Munro, the Newcastle Airport chair, thanked Jetstar for its show of faith.
"Newcastle Airport will continue to secure new domestic and international routes for the region and grow as a significant gateway for international travel in NSW," she said.
"We look forward to working with all levels of government to be the airport our region deserves."
Newcastle Airport's $250 million international terminal expansion is slated for completion in August 2025.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper, whose government is backing the service through its Aviation Attraction Fund, said the route would boost the airport's capacity and "open the Hunter and the Mid-North Coast to a major South-East Asian transport hub and a wealth of opportunity".
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the new link was "just the beginning".
"This is a game changer for the Hunter," Ms Catley said.
"We're not just opening the door to Bali - we're opening our region up to the world.
"With more direct international flights, we're positioning the Hunter as a tourism Mecca. It's about making it easier for the people who live here to explore the world and for the world to discover everything we have here."
News of the Bali flights comes just days after the airport revealed it would fly direct to Perth three times a week from September this year.
The flurry of announcements follows a period of expansion at the Williamtown site, including the construction of the new international terminal. A Newcastle Herald investigation previously revealed the airport had been in discussions with councils to access a financial injection of up to $40 million, and had been working to rein in spending and pay off escalating debt amid its expansion.
The airport has repeatedly denied any financial problems and says it has more than tripled its investment over the past decade.
It said revenue across passenger facilitation and property and commercial activities was $42 million this financial year.
Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson acknowledged the federal government's $121 million investment in delivering international capability. She said she was excited that the council's ownership of the expanded airport could pay off handsomely for ratepayers.
"This asset is going to be so important for us as a council," she said.
"When shareholder dividends return, we've got lots of plans for that money."
Cr Anderson said she had been to Bali "on quite a few occasions" but was looking forward to avoiding the trip to Sydney to depart.
"Bags are packed, I'm ready to go," she said.
WILLIAMTOWN is officially the Hunter's gateway to the world, with Newcastle Airport securing its first ongoing international service beyond Australasia.
Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar in Bali from October 21, linking the region to one of the country's most popular holiday destinations and enabling direct connections from there to more than 40 countries.
The service will be formally announced on Tuesday morning.
Bali-bound flights are planned to leave Newcastle at 9.30am on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from October 21 to land at 1.05pm Indonesian time.
Return voyages are slated to depart Denpasar at 11.10pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the first week. From October 27 they are poised to leave at 10.20pm. They will arrive at 8.05am and 7.15am the next day, respectively.
Newcastle Airport chief executive Linc Horton said the route's arrival "shows what the Hunter is capable of when we aim high".
"We're proud to be delivering what our region has long asked for ... direct international flights from their local airport," he said.
"Jetstar has been part of Newcastle Airport's story from the very beginning, and it's only fitting that they're the airline to take us into our international future.
"Our long-term plan is to grow our international network, and we are working behind the scenes with several airlines about additional routes we may be able to provide."
Newcastle will be Jetstar's tenth route to Bali.
The new service will take slightly more than six hours and is scheduled to operate three times a week.
The A321LR aircraft will provide more than 70,000 seats annually on the route.
Jetstar Group chief executive Stephanie Tully described the route as an "exciting milestone".
"Jetstar is committed to making travel more accessible, and people living in and around Newcastle will no longer need to drive to other airports to fly overseas, which means more time and money can go toward their holiday," she said.
While the Port Stephens hub has previously flown to New Zealand directly, that service has been available only seasonally.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said it was "a historic moment" and paid tribute to the contributions of the two councils, Port Stephens and Newcastle, that co-own the airport.
"This means a lot to the people of Port Stephens and the Hunter," she said.
"Becoming an international airport isn't easy, there are a whole lot of people who have pushed for this for years."
Jude Munro, the Newcastle Airport chair, thanked Jetstar for its show of faith.
"Newcastle Airport will continue to secure new domestic and international routes for the region and grow as a significant gateway for international travel in NSW," she said.
"We look forward to working with all levels of government to be the airport our region deserves."
Newcastle Airport's $250 million international terminal expansion is slated for completion in August 2025.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper, whose government is backing the service through its Aviation Attraction Fund, said the route would boost the airport's capacity and "open the Hunter and the Mid-North Coast to a major South-East Asian transport hub and a wealth of opportunity".
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the new link was "just the beginning".
"This is a game changer for the Hunter," Ms Catley said.
"We're not just opening the door to Bali - we're opening our region up to the world.
"With more direct international flights, we're positioning the Hunter as a tourism Mecca. It's about making it easier for the people who live here to explore the world and for the world to discover everything we have here."
News of the Bali flights comes just days after the airport revealed it would fly direct to Perth three times a week from September this year.
The flurry of announcements follows a period of expansion at the Williamtown site, including the construction of the new international terminal. A Newcastle Herald investigation previously revealed the airport had been in discussions with councils to access a financial injection of up to $40 million, and had been working to rein in spending and pay off escalating debt amid its expansion.
The airport has repeatedly denied any financial problems and says it has more than tripled its investment over the past decade.
It said revenue across passenger facilitation and property and commercial activities was $42 million this financial year.
Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson acknowledged the federal government's $121 million investment in delivering international capability. She said she was excited that the council's ownership of the expanded airport could pay off handsomely for ratepayers.
"This asset is going to be so important for us as a council," she said.
"When shareholder dividends return, we've got lots of plans for that money."
Cr Anderson said she had been to Bali "on quite a few occasions" but was looking forward to avoiding the trip to Sydney to depart.
"Bags are packed, I'm ready to go," she said.
WILLIAMTOWN is officially the Hunter's gateway to the world, with Newcastle Airport securing its first ongoing international service beyond Australasia.
Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar in Bali from October 21, linking the region to one of the country's most popular holiday destinations and enabling direct connections from there to more than 40 countries.
The service will be formally announced on Tuesday morning.
Bali-bound flights are planned to leave Newcastle at 9.30am on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from October 21 to land at 1.05pm Indonesian time.
Return voyages are slated to depart Denpasar at 11.10pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the first week. From October 27 they are poised to leave at 10.20pm. They will arrive at 8.05am and 7.15am the next day, respectively.
Newcastle Airport chief executive Linc Horton said the route's arrival "shows what the Hunter is capable of when we aim high".
"We're proud to be delivering what our region has long asked for ... direct international flights from their local airport," he said.
"Jetstar has been part of Newcastle Airport's story from the very beginning, and it's only fitting that they're the airline to take us into our international future.
"Our long-term plan is to grow our international network, and we are working behind the scenes with several airlines about additional routes we may be able to provide."
Newcastle will be Jetstar's tenth route to Bali.
The new service will take slightly more than six hours and is scheduled to operate three times a week.
The A321LR aircraft will provide more than 70,000 seats annually on the route.
Jetstar Group chief executive Stephanie Tully described the route as an "exciting milestone".
"Jetstar is committed to making travel more accessible, and people living in and around Newcastle will no longer need to drive to other airports to fly overseas, which means more time and money can go toward their holiday," she said.
While the Port Stephens hub has previously flown to New Zealand directly, that service has been available only seasonally.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said it was "a historic moment" and paid tribute to the contributions of the two councils, Port Stephens and Newcastle, that co-own the airport.
"This means a lot to the people of Port Stephens and the Hunter," she said.
"Becoming an international airport isn't easy, there are a whole lot of people who have pushed for this for years."
Jude Munro, the Newcastle Airport chair, thanked Jetstar for its show of faith.
"Newcastle Airport will continue to secure new domestic and international routes for the region and grow as a significant gateway for international travel in NSW," she said.
"We look forward to working with all levels of government to be the airport our region deserves."
Newcastle Airport's $250 million international terminal expansion is slated for completion in August 2025.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper, whose government is backing the service through its Aviation Attraction Fund, said the route would boost the airport's capacity and "open the Hunter and the Mid-North Coast to a major South-East Asian transport hub and a wealth of opportunity".
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the new link was "just the beginning".
"This is a game changer for the Hunter," Ms Catley said.
"We're not just opening the door to Bali - we're opening our region up to the world.
"With more direct international flights, we're positioning the Hunter as a tourism Mecca. It's about making it easier for the people who live here to explore the world and for the world to discover everything we have here."
News of the Bali flights comes just days after the airport revealed it would fly direct to Perth three times a week from September this year.
The flurry of announcements follows a period of expansion at the Williamtown site, including the construction of the new international terminal. A Newcastle Herald investigation previously revealed the airport had been in discussions with councils to access a financial injection of up to $40 million, and had been working to rein in spending and pay off escalating debt amid its expansion.
The airport has repeatedly denied any financial problems and says it has more than tripled its investment over the past decade.
It said revenue across passenger facilitation and property and commercial activities was $42 million this financial year.
Port Stephens mayor Leah Anderson acknowledged the federal government's $121 million investment in delivering international capability. She said she was excited that the council's ownership of the expanded airport could pay off handsomely for ratepayers.
"This asset is going to be so important for us as a council," she said.
"When shareholder dividends return, we've got lots of plans for that money."
Cr Anderson said she had been to Bali "on quite a few occasions" but was looking forward to avoiding the trip to Sydney to depart.
"Bags are packed, I'm ready to go," she said.
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