Twin national awards recognise Newcastle Airport’s green terminal transformation

newy.com.au – Newcastle Airport has picked up two national awards for infrastructure and sustainability at the Australian Airports Association’s 2025 National Airport Industry Awards on the Gold Coast this week.

The twin wins recognise the airport’s $250 million terminal transformation and its rapid progress on cutting emissions, reinforcing its push to become a major international gateway for the Hunter and northern New South Wales while leading the industry on climate action.

Newcastle Airport won the Airport Excellence Award for Infrastructure for its International Terminal Expansion project and the Airport Excellence Award for Sustainability, emerging from what it described as a highly competitive national field. Chief executive Linc Horton said the airport was pleased to be recognised alongside other major operators.

“We were finalists across six categories recognising airport achievements and senior leadership and we couldn’t be more honoured to stand among our peers and celebrate their achievements,” Mr Horton said. “Taking home two of the awards is just icing on the cake.”

The infrastructure award centres on the scale and delivery of the terminal redevelopment, which adds 50% to the building’s footprint and introduces eight gates, an expanded arrivals hall, streamlined passenger flows and a state-of-the-art aerobridge capable of handling larger international aircraft.

“Winning these awards reflects the long-term vision and effort behind delivering a terminal built for the future. We have a brand new international terminal ready to serve our region that has been built to lead in sustainable design,” Mr Horton said.

Horton said the expanded facilities were designed to lift the region’s connectivity and competitiveness by allowing the airport to support long-haul international services. “Our new international terminal sets the stage for a more connected and competitive region as we now have the infrastructure to support long-haul international services and deliver the airport the region deserves,” he said.

The airport says the new terminal is already supporting growth, with recent direct routes added to Perth, Hobart and Bali and one-stop access to Singapore via Bali scheduled to launch in March 2026. “These new services demonstrate the role our infrastructure plays in attracting new airlines and creating new opportunities for business, tourism and trade,” Mr Horton said.

According to Newcastle Airport, the terminal project is expected to generate more than 4,400 long-term jobs and contribute $12.7 billion in economic activity over the next 20 years, with benefits spread across freight, logistics and tourism.

The expansion is also being positioned as a major step forward in sustainability. The building runs on 100% renewable energy and includes a 1,236-panel solar array that provides about 20% of its power needs. It has already achieved a 5-Star Green Star “Design” rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, with a 5-Star “As Built” rating being pursued as construction milestones are finalised.

These credentials underpinned the airport’s second win of the night, the Airport Excellence Award for Sustainability. Newcastle Airport says it was the first airport in the country to reach Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 4+, achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions six years ahead of its 2030 target through a 100% renewable power purchase agreement and nature-based offsets. Horton said sustainability was embedded in how the airport planned, built and operated, and that the recognition affirmed its focus on environmental accountability. “It’s a win for the airport and for the region,” he said.

The awards also highlighted work across the broader business, with Newcastle Airport named a finalist in infrastructure, operations and sustainability categories, and four members of its leadership team recognised in the Emerging Airport Leader Award program: Bayley Foley, Ben Kochanski, Burcak Sezer and Dylan Parker. Horton said the airport benefited from a skilled board, dedicated senior leadership and teams committed to delivering for the region it serves.

With the expanded terminal now in full operational readiness, Newcastle Airport says its priority is to secure more direct services to key domestic and international destinations. “We know our region wants more choice and better access to the world and we now have the infrastructure, capability and momentum to make that happen,” Mr Horton said. The airport currently operates more than 250 weekly flights to 12 destinations, connecting the Hunter to major interstate and international hubs.