Thousands of travellers could pass through Newcastle Airport next month after the Queensland government announced it would ease its border restrictions from early next week.
NSW residents living outside Sydney will be able to travel north of the border from Tuesday, November 3.
Residents of 32 council areas in Greater Sydney are still restricted from entering the Sunshine state. People from outside Sydney can still depart from Mascot Airport if they travel to the aviation hub without stopping in the greater metropolitan area.
The changes, made on the eve of Queensland's election on Saturday, prompted Virgin Australia to announce it would double its services between Newcastle and Brisbane within a fortnight.
The airline, which had scaled back its services from Williamtown due to COVID-19, said it would begin flying six times per week rather than three starting from November 9.
Jetstar had been scheduling flights out of Newcastle Airport to both Brisbane and the Gold Coast from November 1, but these will now resume on November 3.
The airline will operate seven return flights per week on the Newcastle-Brisbane route and four return flights per week between Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
It is expected to monitor how those services fill up over coming days with early-bird fares on both routes starting from under $70.
The border announcement and subsequent increase in flights offers a glimpse of blue sky for the Newcastle Airport after a difficult year. About a quarter of its 59 staff were stood down earlier this month and other employees had to take a cut to their hours and pay.
Newcastle Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock said the border changes would allow the airport to play a key role in connecting regional NSW residents with Queensland.
He said it was welcome news and came on the back of new flights being announced to Canberra and Lord Howe Island.
"The new services announced last week, the opening of QLD to regional NSW and the progressive reduction in restrictions in Victoria, are all great news for our community in the lead up to Christmas," he said.
"Interstate flights will offer regional people the chance to finally connect with friends and loved ones, or to get away for that long-awaited holiday. Working closely with our airline partners we stand ready to meet the needs of the region.
"That's a big responsibility, and one we take seriously."
Dr Cock said he expected Hunter residents to snap up cheap flight tickets over the next few weeks as summer approached.
"Our most recent community polling showed that our region is more eager to fly than the rest of the country," he said.
"We know they are particularly interested in getting to Queensland and we're confident there will be plenty of demand in both directions once flights recommence next week."
More than 100,000 people passed through Newcastle Airport last November.
