In a landmark move fit to ruffle feathers and rewrite the Hunter region’s travel history, Newcastle Airport has announced its first-ever year-round international service, with Jetstar launching direct flights to Bali from 21 October 2025.
Yes, you read that right. Newcastle – long the bridesmaid to Sydney’s globetrotting hub – is finally hitching a ride into the international skies, swapping domestic routine for tropical dreams and jet-setting swagger.
It’s poetic. Jetstar, the very airline that cut the ribbon on its inaugural commercial service from Newcastle Airport way back in 2004, is the same winged chariot ushering in this new global chapter. Back then, it was all novelty and nervous optimism. Today, it’s confidence and momentum.
“Jetstar has been part of Newcastle Airport’s story from their very beginning and it’s only fitting that they’re the airline to take us into our international future,” said Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton. And with the eloquence of a man who’s waited two decades to utter those words, he added, “Announcing the availability of direct flights to Denpasar International Airport is a perfect way to kickstart a new era of international travel for the region.”
From 21 October, locals in the Hunter and Mid-North Coast won’t need to schlep down the M1 to Sydney, wrestle with traffic, or pray for an early morning parking spot to get their Bali fix. Instead, three times a week – every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – Newcastle Airport will be your gateway to Denpasar. You’ll leave the Hunter at 9:30 am and be sipping a coconut in Seminyak by early afternoon.
Coming back? Easy. Depart Bali at 10:20 pm on Monday, Wednesday or Friday and wake up back in Newcastle with a tan and a carry-on full of batik.
The numbers stack up, too. This new route is expected to carry more than 70,000 passengers annually. That’s not just good news for the travel-hungry. It’s a windfall for the local economy, with tourism operators, small businesses, and service providers all poised to benefit.
And just in time for the grand reveal, the airport’s swanky new international terminal – the crown jewel of a $250 million redevelopment project – is set to be unveiled in August 2025. This expansion is not just bricks and boarding gates. It’s bricks and vision.
“Our new international terminal reflects our commitment to the Hunter region’s growth,” Horton said. “The connectivity it offers will make the Hunter a more attractive destination for international tourists and a more convenient option for locals looking to explore the world.”
Jude Munro AO, Chair of Newcastle Airport, captured the mood with regional pride: “Announcing international connectivity was a big step towards giving Newcastle and the Greater Hunter an airport that matches its global outlook.”
Jetstar is wasting no time celebrating the occasion. A 24-hour launch sale is now live, with one-way fares to Bali starting from just $199. And if that’s not enough to get you to the tarmac, there’s a cheeky $88 carpark deal for eight days of mystery parking.
The Minns Labor Government, too, has been instrumental in realising this milestone. NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper, praised the partnership: “This strategic investment will open the Hunter and the Mid-North Coast to a major South-East Asian transport hub and a wealth of opportunity.”
The ramifications are bigger than just Bintang and boardshorts. This route is a long-term play – a foundational step in the airport’s strategic plan to lure more international carriers and routes to the region.
Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully couldn’t hide her enthusiasm either: “We’re thrilled to be the airline to launch Newcastle’s first international flights in more than five years with our new direct service from Newcastle to Bali.”
And, in a nod to the ordinary traveller, she added: “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.”
This isn’t just a win for wanderlust. It’s a bold signal to the aviation world that Newcastle is no longer a side note in the Australian travel narrative. It’s a destination, a departure point, and, perhaps most importantly, a declaration of ambition.
Newcastle Airport has quite literally taken off.
Visit www.newcastleairport.com.au to explore the new flights, book your island escape, or nab a bargain while they last.
By Soo James
