Newcastle to Bali flights 'game-changer', Hunter tourism industry says
Newcastle Airport announced on Tuesday June 3 morning that Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar from October 21 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.
Return flights will leave Bali on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Kiera Burke co-owns Newy Tour Co, a guided tour company with options from vineyards to whale-watching.
"For us to be able to be connected internationally and for Denpasar as such a hub to other places, it just opens up more opportunities for potential customers," she said.
"Newcastle is a bit of an undiscovered hidden gem when it comes to global tourism."
Ms Burke said in the 18 months her business had been open, their customer base was already 60 per cent international, with guests from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.
"This is definitely helping put us on the map with international tourism," she said.
The tour operator said when pitching to overseas agencies, an international airport along with the city's beaches piqued their interest.
"They start to consider us for itineraries and options for their guests travelling to Australia," she said.
Noah's On The Beach Hotel in Newcastle and Hunter Travel Group (HTG) also celebrated the new service.
"This is a game-changer for travellers in the Hunter Region, offering the convenience of flying overseas straight from our own backyard - no more battling Sydney traffic or lengthy airport commutes," HTG managing director Brett Dann said.
The new route offers connections from more than 40 countries and would take just over six hours.
Following Tuesday's announcement, Jetstar launched a 24-hour sale of $199 one-way fares with general pricing yet to be revealed in detail.
Julia van Huisstede from italktravel in The Junction said the Bali routes were "long-awaited and anticipated".
She said their phones were already ringing this morning and emails were filing in.
"A lot are bookings or quotes for people to travel next year that hadn't committed yet," she said.
"Bali is definitely a hot spot for Novocastrians, we have a huge market going there."
The travel agent said she hoped the move would draw in Indonesian tourists and other international guests who would be able to connect via Bali.
"People might go to Singapore and then Bali for a holiday, and then continue to Newcastle," she said.
Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said they hope to offer more routes and holiday destinations "shortly".
"I'd love to say tomorrow but hopefully later on this year," he said.
Mr Horton said they would consider holiday spots similar to Bali under eight hours away.
"We are actively talking to other airlines and working to build a broader international network for the region," he said.
"Airlines have to be cautious where they put their places and their people, but I think very quickly they'll see how strong the demand is," he said.
Jetstar head of airline partnerships and network Ted Knight said the Newcastle service had been a long time in the making.
"With this service, we will have 70,000 seats per year," he said.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route would help boost industries in the visitor economy arena.
He said the flights would hopefully expand to the movement of goods via the planes as well.
"It also opens opportunities for new freight connections, which will benefit our export businesses and encourage the flow of more outbound goods from other parts of the state through Newcastle," he said.
Both Ms van Huisstede and Ms Burke hoped to see routes further expanded to destinations such as Singapore, Fiji and Hong Kong.
One Newcastle Herald reader said it was the first step forward with hopefully more international routes to follow while another said they hoped for Singapore, Tokyo or Jakarta.
Singapore topped a poll of readers' favoured next overseas routes, with 61 per cent of respondents backing the Asian hub.
The USA polled 14.7 per cent, behind other options (16.8 per cent), while another Australian route landed at just over 7 per cent.
The new direct flights to Bali are a "game-changer" for Hunter tourists and visitors alike, local travel agents and tour operators say.
Newcastle Airport announced on Tuesday June 3 morning that Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar from October 21 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.
Return flights will leave Bali on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Kiera Burke co-owns Newy Tour Co, a guided tour company with options from vineyards to whale-watching.
"For us to be able to be connected internationally and for Denpasar as such a hub to other places, it just opens up more opportunities for potential customers," she said.
"Newcastle is a bit of an undiscovered hidden gem when it comes to global tourism."
Ms Burke said in the 18 months her business had been open, their customer base was already 60 per cent international, with guests from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.
"This is definitely helping put us on the map with international tourism," she said.
The tour operator said when pitching to overseas agencies, an international airport along with the city's beaches piqued their interest.
"They start to consider us for itineraries and options for their guests travelling to Australia," she said.
Noah's On The Beach Hotel in Newcastle and Hunter Travel Group (HTG) also celebrated the new service.
"This is a game-changer for travellers in the Hunter Region, offering the convenience of flying overseas straight from our own backyard - no more battling Sydney traffic or lengthy airport commutes," HTG managing director Brett Dann said.
The new route offers connections from more than 40 countries and would take just over six hours.
Following Tuesday's announcement, Jetstar launched a 24-hour sale of $199 one-way fares with general pricing yet to be revealed in detail.
Julia van Huisstede from italktravel in The Junction said the Bali routes were "long-awaited and anticipated".
She said their phones were already ringing this morning and emails were filing in.
"A lot are bookings or quotes for people to travel next year that hadn't committed yet," she said.
"Bali is definitely a hot spot for Novocastrians, we have a huge market going there."
The travel agent said she hoped the move would draw in Indonesian tourists and other international guests who would be able to connect via Bali.
"People might go to Singapore and then Bali for a holiday, and then continue to Newcastle," she said.
Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said they hope to offer more routes and holiday destinations "shortly".
"I'd love to say tomorrow but hopefully later on this year," he said.
Mr Horton said they would consider holiday spots similar to Bali under eight hours away.
"We are actively talking to other airlines and working to build a broader international network for the region," he said.
"Airlines have to be cautious where they put their places and their people, but I think very quickly they'll see how strong the demand is," he said.
Jetstar head of airline partnerships and network Ted Knight said the Newcastle service had been a long time in the making.
"With this service, we will have 70,000 seats per year," he said.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route would help boost industries in the visitor economy arena.
He said the flights would hopefully expand to the movement of goods via the planes as well.
"It also opens opportunities for new freight connections, which will benefit our export businesses and encourage the flow of more outbound goods from other parts of the state through Newcastle," he said.
Both Ms van Huisstede and Ms Burke hoped to see routes further expanded to destinations such as Singapore, Fiji and Hong Kong.
One Newcastle Herald reader said it was the first step forward with hopefully more international routes to follow while another said they hoped for Singapore, Tokyo or Jakarta.
Singapore topped a poll of readers' favoured next overseas routes, with 61 per cent of respondents backing the Asian hub.
The USA polled 14.7 per cent, behind other options (16.8 per cent), while another Australian route landed at just over 7 per cent.
The new direct flights to Bali are a "game-changer" for Hunter tourists and visitors alike, local travel agents and tour operators say.
Newcastle Airport announced on Tuesday June 3 morning that Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar from October 21 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.
Return flights will leave Bali on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Kiera Burke co-owns Newy Tour Co, a guided tour company with options from vineyards to whale-watching.
"For us to be able to be connected internationally and for Denpasar as such a hub to other places, it just opens up more opportunities for potential customers," she said.
"Newcastle is a bit of an undiscovered hidden gem when it comes to global tourism."
Ms Burke said in the 18 months her business had been open, their customer base was already 60 per cent international, with guests from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.
"This is definitely helping put us on the map with international tourism," she said.
The tour operator said when pitching to overseas agencies, an international airport along with the city's beaches piqued their interest.
"They start to consider us for itineraries and options for their guests travelling to Australia," she said.
Noah's On The Beach Hotel in Newcastle and Hunter Travel Group (HTG) also celebrated the new service.
"This is a game-changer for travellers in the Hunter Region, offering the convenience of flying overseas straight from our own backyard - no more battling Sydney traffic or lengthy airport commutes," HTG managing director Brett Dann said.
The new route offers connections from more than 40 countries and would take just over six hours.
Following Tuesday's announcement, Jetstar launched a 24-hour sale of $199 one-way fares with general pricing yet to be revealed in detail.
Julia van Huisstede from italktravel in The Junction said the Bali routes were "long-awaited and anticipated".
She said their phones were already ringing this morning and emails were filing in.
"A lot are bookings or quotes for people to travel next year that hadn't committed yet," she said.
"Bali is definitely a hot spot for Novocastrians, we have a huge market going there."
The travel agent said she hoped the move would draw in Indonesian tourists and other international guests who would be able to connect via Bali.
"People might go to Singapore and then Bali for a holiday, and then continue to Newcastle," she said.
Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said they hope to offer more routes and holiday destinations "shortly".
"I'd love to say tomorrow but hopefully later on this year," he said.
Mr Horton said they would consider holiday spots similar to Bali under eight hours away.
"We are actively talking to other airlines and working to build a broader international network for the region," he said.
"Airlines have to be cautious where they put their places and their people, but I think very quickly they'll see how strong the demand is," he said.
Jetstar head of airline partnerships and network Ted Knight said the Newcastle service had been a long time in the making.
"With this service, we will have 70,000 seats per year," he said.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route would help boost industries in the visitor economy arena.
He said the flights would hopefully expand to the movement of goods via the planes as well.
"It also opens opportunities for new freight connections, which will benefit our export businesses and encourage the flow of more outbound goods from other parts of the state through Newcastle," he said.
Both Ms van Huisstede and Ms Burke hoped to see routes further expanded to destinations such as Singapore, Fiji and Hong Kong.
One Newcastle Herald reader said it was the first step forward with hopefully more international routes to follow while another said they hoped for Singapore, Tokyo or Jakarta.
Singapore topped a poll of readers' favoured next overseas routes, with 61 per cent of respondents backing the Asian hub.
The USA polled 14.7 per cent, behind other options (16.8 per cent), while another Australian route landed at just over 7 per cent.
The new direct flights to Bali are a "game-changer" for Hunter tourists and visitors alike, local travel agents and tour operators say.
Newcastle Airport announced on Tuesday June 3 morning that Jetstar will fly from Newcastle to Denpasar from October 21 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.
Return flights will leave Bali on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Kiera Burke co-owns Newy Tour Co, a guided tour company with options from vineyards to whale-watching.
"For us to be able to be connected internationally and for Denpasar as such a hub to other places, it just opens up more opportunities for potential customers," she said.
"Newcastle is a bit of an undiscovered hidden gem when it comes to global tourism."
Ms Burke said in the 18 months her business had been open, their customer base was already 60 per cent international, with guests from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries.
"This is definitely helping put us on the map with international tourism," she said.
The tour operator said when pitching to overseas agencies, an international airport along with the city's beaches piqued their interest.
"They start to consider us for itineraries and options for their guests travelling to Australia," she said.
Noah's On The Beach Hotel in Newcastle and Hunter Travel Group (HTG) also celebrated the new service.
"This is a game-changer for travellers in the Hunter Region, offering the convenience of flying overseas straight from our own backyard - no more battling Sydney traffic or lengthy airport commutes," HTG managing director Brett Dann said.
The new route offers connections from more than 40 countries and would take just over six hours.
Following Tuesday's announcement, Jetstar launched a 24-hour sale of $199 one-way fares with general pricing yet to be revealed in detail.
Julia van Huisstede from italktravel in The Junction said the Bali routes were "long-awaited and anticipated".
She said their phones were already ringing this morning and emails were filing in.
"A lot are bookings or quotes for people to travel next year that hadn't committed yet," she said.
"Bali is definitely a hot spot for Novocastrians, we have a huge market going there."
The travel agent said she hoped the move would draw in Indonesian tourists and other international guests who would be able to connect via Bali.
"People might go to Singapore and then Bali for a holiday, and then continue to Newcastle," she said.
Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said they hope to offer more routes and holiday destinations "shortly".
"I'd love to say tomorrow but hopefully later on this year," he said.
Mr Horton said they would consider holiday spots similar to Bali under eight hours away.
"We are actively talking to other airlines and working to build a broader international network for the region," he said.
"Airlines have to be cautious where they put their places and their people, but I think very quickly they'll see how strong the demand is," he said.
Jetstar head of airline partnerships and network Ted Knight said the Newcastle service had been a long time in the making.
"With this service, we will have 70,000 seats per year," he said.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the route would help boost industries in the visitor economy arena.
He said the flights would hopefully expand to the movement of goods via the planes as well.
"It also opens opportunities for new freight connections, which will benefit our export businesses and encourage the flow of more outbound goods from other parts of the state through Newcastle," he said.
Both Ms van Huisstede and Ms Burke hoped to see routes further expanded to destinations such as Singapore, Fiji and Hong Kong.
One Newcastle Herald reader said it was the first step forward with hopefully more international routes to follow while another said they hoped for Singapore, Tokyo or Jakarta.
Singapore topped a poll of readers' favoured next overseas routes, with 61 per cent of respondents backing the Asian hub.
The USA polled 14.7 per cent, behind other options (16.8 per cent), while another Australian route landed at just over 7 per cent.
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