Newcastle Airport: the Basics (NZ186714)

1929 – City council first discuss the idea of an airport;

1935 – Small airport opens at Woolsington (“Woolsington Aerodrome”), managed by the Newcastle Aero Club;

1939-45 – Taken over by the RAF;

1946-52 – Charter & private flights only;

1952 – First scheduled flights begin on the appointment of long-term Commandant, Jim Denyer;

1967 – New terminal opens;

1978 – Attains Regional Airport Status;

1982 – More major development work;

1989 – Retirement of Jim Denyer;

1991 – Metro rail link opened, connecting airport to Newcastle Central Railway Station;

1993 – More terminal expansion;

2000-04 – Yet more improvements to the terminal buildings;

2013 – Airport Master Plan unveiled, itemising development proposals up to 2030.

Passenger numbers (approx):

1951 – 5,300;

1957 – 34,000;

1960 – 119,000;

1965 – 254,000;

1970 – 417,000;

1975 – 695,000;

1980 – 1,027,000;

1988 – 1,500,000;

1993 – 2,000,000;

2000 – 3,209,000;

2007 – 5,651,000 (peak);

2012 – 4,366,000.

[taken from Small Enough to Conquer the Sky by John Sleight (Newcastle City Libraries & Arts, 1993), with supplemental information from Wikipedia]