Over 24,000 more passengers flew through Newcastle Airport in 2025 compared to the previous year, taking the annual total to more than 1.2 million, according to new government data.
The airport says the growth - an increase of 2 per cent year-on-year - is a strong start as it pursues more domestic routes and the expansion of its international connections.
International flights taking off from the Hunter in October proved a late shot in the arm for the airport, boosting growth and offsetting steadier progress in domestic trade.
Just over 10 weeks of flights from October accounted for almost 30 per cent of the airport's total passenger growth in the second half of the year, and almost 40 per cent of growth in the final quarter.
Total international passenger movements came to 11,271, inspiring optimism from the Hunter's tourism and business sectors that the revamped terminal and international runway will deliver on the region's potential to become a tourism powerhouse.
"We're very happy with our performance," the airport's executive general manager for aviation, Andrew Warrender, said.
Mr Warrender said the airport was in a competitive position, compared to some others around the country.
Most flights were running at capacity percentages in the high-80s and low-90s, he said.
The Newcastle to Cairns seasonal route was not returning this year, with Mr Warrender saying: "Airlines make decisions with their aircraft, and in this instance they have decided to use that aircraft somewhere else."
"We're working on getting that back for 2027," he said. "It's a popular route and we're disappointed for anyone who was making that regular trip. But we're hopeful we will get it back next year."
Helloworld Hunter Travel Group chief executive Brett Dann said rather than giving up on their holiday plans, cost-of-living pressures had made travellers more selective.
"We are not necessarily seeing people abandon overseas travel, but we are seeing consumers place greater value on convenience and total journey cost," he said.
"That is one reason why direct and same-plane services from Newcastle are so important. Hunter travellers are increasingly willing to start their international journeys from Newcastle when the route, schedule and pricing align."
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said although it was too early to see the full effect of the airport's redevelopment in the passenger data, the initial response was positive.
"I expect we will really start to see the impact of the runway and terminal upgrades and the new interstate and international flights when the 2026 data is released," he said.
Mr Warrender said the airport was on track to set a new financial year passenger movement record in June, forecasting upwards of 1.33 million. If achieved, the figure would surpass both the airport's 2018-19 result of 1.26 million and its calendar year performance in 2019 of 1.28 million.
Although the airport's passenger numbers have been increasing, they have still not returned to pre-pandemic heights.
"Largely, the passengers in our catchment have continued to travel in the same way that they did before," Mr Warrender said. "Our flights are as busy as they were, and we continue to grow, which I think is probably contrary to some other airports in Australia."
Williamtown's growth rate is trailing Sydney's, the nation's busiest airport. On total passenger movements, Sydney grew 2.67 per cent compared with Newcastle's 2.05 per cent.
Mr Warrender said the results indicated a strong start to international flights.
"This has been a really good 12 months for us in terms of the things that we've done and the way that the region's responding," he said. "I expect to see us continue to grow in international destinations and passengers."
