Overview
The airport is jointly owned by Newcastle City Council and Port Stephens Council, and managed by Newcastle Airport Limited. The airport and associated developments support an estimated 3,200 jobs and contributed $465.5 million to the economy of the lower Hunter Region in 2008.
The airport runway is shared with the RAAF Base Williamtown. Even though this base is a military airfield, civilian operations are permitted. Jetstar, Virgin Australia, QantasLink, Aeropelican, Brindabella Airlines and Regional Express operate flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Narrabri and Cooma-Snowy Mountains. The airport is leased from the Federal Government for civilian air travel until 2045.
The largest aircraft currently operating to Newcastle Airport are the Boeing 737-800s of Virgin Australia. The civil apron can handle aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767. Future upgrades to the apron will allow larger Airbus A330 and Boeing 787-sized aircraft to operate from the airport terminal. The airport runway can handle aircraft up to Boeing 747 size.
Read more about this topic: Newcastle Airport (Williamtown)