Newcastle Airport welcomes more direct flights to Cairns

Newcastle Airport in Australia will welcome more direct flights to Cairns this year after Jetstar announced its decision to up its frequency on the route.

Airport CEO, Dr Peter Cock, welcomed the announcement, saying it’s more good news for the region.

“We are thrilled to once again partner with Jetstar and Cairns Airport for a third season of this incredibly popular direct service,” he enthused.

“People of our region love Tropical North Queensland. Cairns has proven to be one of our most in-demand destinations over the past two years as travellers head north to escape winter.

“Not only does the direct connection offer ease and convenience, but a flight time of only 2 hours and 45 minutes means the popular destination is more accessible than ever.

“It also provides an exciting boost for tourism for both cities, the benefits of which cannot be underestimated after the challenges of the past three years.”

Dr Cock said Newcastle Airport is the better alternative to big city airports when it comes to venturing north and connecting to international destinations.

“From Cairns Airport, people from our region can connect to Japan, as well as more Australian destinations, including Darwin, and getting to Cairns is faster from Newcastle Airport with no tolls, easy parking, shorter queues and less stress,” he stated.

“Less time waiting for connections or driving to Sydney means you have more time to start enjoying your tropical holiday sooner.”

Jetstar’s chief customer officer, Alan McIntyre, said demand was strong since the route’s inception in 2021.

“We’re confident it will be just as popular this year,” he said.

Jetstar is the only airline operating this route, linking two of the country’s most spectacular tourist destinations. Flights are expected to fill quickly with the service carrying up to 6,000 passengers per month.

“With the support of our region, we are confident the popularity of this service will see it become a permanent seasonal fixture or even year-round,” said Dr Cock.

Cairns is the first of many direct routes Newcastle Airport hopes to announce in 2023, with more exciting destinations on the horizon over the coming 12 months.