NEWCASTLE Airport has taken out a major national award, being named Australia’s Airport of the Year for 2026.
The award was announced at the Australian Aviation Awards in Sydney on 6 August.
Newcastle Airport secured the top spot after beating finalists including Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, and Port Hedland International airports.
For Port Stephens, the win is particularly significant, with Port Stephens Council and City of Newcastle jointly owning the facility.
The national award recognised the airport’s focus on passenger experience, sustainability, and its contribution to the regional economy.
The award comes at an important time for the airport, following years of substantial investment and expansion.
The site has undergone major changes in recent years, including the opening of its new international terminal and the introduction of new domestic and international routes.
While the name Newcastle Airport may be on the sign, its success is a win for Port Stephens, which shares ownership of the airport and benefits from the visitors, jobs, and economic activity it helps bring to the region.
The facility provides an important gateway for visitors coming into the Hunter and Port Stephens, while giving residents greater access to destinations around Australia and overseas.
Port Stephens Council has previously highlighted the airport’s importance to tourism, defence, trade, and employment across the region.
The growth is also expected to continue, with international services providing more opportunities for people travelling to and from the Hunter and Port Stephens.
For local businesses involved in tourism and hospitality, having an award-winning airport on the doorstep could provide another boost as the region continues to attract visitors.
The national recognition puts the airport firmly in the spotlight and gives Port Stephens another reason to celebrate its regional gateway.
Belinda Wilk, who lives in Blacksmiths, is a local traveller who rates the facility highly.
“It’s a good, clean and efficient airport,” Ms Wilk said.
Not everyone flying into the terminal shares that exact sentiment.
One visitor arriving from Adelaide highlighted a few frustrating sticking points, particularly a $5 fee required to secure a luggage trolley at the baggage carousel.
The traveller argued that slapping a charge on basic equipment is an unnecessary hurdle, especially for older passengers or pensioners who might already be struggling to haul heavy bags across the arrivals hall.
Other passengers have mixed feelings about the physical transformation of the site.
One recent flyer called the new international terminal a gemstone in terms of design, but questioned whether the new facility is being used to its full capacity.
Raymond Terrace local Shamima Hari said her experience coming through the international terminal was clean and straightforward.
Ms Hari told News Of The Area, “Sydney Airport is much more chaotic.”
By Althea GUINSBERG
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