30th October 

It was announced yesterday that Tiger Airways has selected Newcastle Airport as its only NSW destination. Twice daily flights to Melbourne are scheduled to commence on January 8^th 2008.

This will increase the number of daily return services to Melbourne from 7 to 9 from January. Jetstar also recently announced an almost 50% increase in it services in /out Newcastle from June 2008 which will add at least another daily Melbourne service and additional services to Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

“ This means that bringing your delegates to Newcastle has become a whole lot easier” said Ruth Appleby, Conventions Manager at Newcastle Visitor & Convention Bureau.  

“Newcastle Airport is already Australia’s fastest growing regional airport with the annual passengers numbers expected to exceed the million mark for the year. As well as the direct services to Melbourne,  there are up to  9 daily return services to Sydney, 8 to Brisbane , 4 to Canberra as well as services to Gold Coast, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Norfolk Island”

she said.

This announcement comes one month after the commencement of a $10 million apron expansion which will increase the airport’s capacity to handle an medium sized jet aircraft to six and allow for the handling of larger international aircraft in the near future .  The apron expansion is expected to be completed by January 2008.

Tiger Airlines is the fourth major carrier to operate out of Newcastle the others being Qantaslink, Virgin Blue, Jetstar as well as regional carriers Brindabella, Aeropelican and Norfolkair.