Wollongong Airport

23/05/2026

The skies are quiet at WOL right now — but this is bigger than Wollongong.

This week Rex announced it's cutting its Devonport and King Island–Burnie services and trimming Mildura flights, citing soaring fuel costs. It's the latest in a pattern of regional route rationalisation playing out across Australia.

Link Airways suspended WOL services on 18 May for the same reasons. Rex is now making similar calls elsewhere. The economics of regional aviation are under pressure everywhere — and smaller communities are feeling it first.

What does this mean for WOL's future? We're watching the market closely. The Illawarra has the population, the demand, and the infrastructure to support regular air services. What's needed is the right operator, at the right time, with the right aircraft for the route.

That operator is out there. Routes don't stay vacant forever — particularly ones connecting a city of 300,000 people to Melbourne and Brisbane.

In the meantime, the Productivity Commission inquiry into regional airfares is underway, and the case for NSW to develop its own aviation support mechanism — like Tasmania's $5M Aviation Attraction Fund — is stronger than ever.

We'll keep you updated as things develop. Follow the page so you don't miss it. ✈️

07/05/2026

Link Airways has announced the suspension of all Wollongong flights — to Melbourne and Brisbane — effective 20 May 2026, citing fuel costs and reduced demand.

This is disappointing news for the Illawarra.

Link has been flying from WOL since November 2018 — longer than any previous passenger airline in our airport's history. We're grateful for that commitment, and we understand the economics that have made this decision unavoidable.

But this is exactly the outcome we've been writing about. Thin margins. Rising costs. A funding environment that makes regional aviation almost impossible to sustain without government support.

If you have an existing booking, Link will contact you directly and offer a full refund. You can also reach them on 1300 851 269.

We're not giving up on this airport. We'll be watching closely and advocating loudly for the Illawarra's right to direct air connections. When demand recovers — and it will — we want to be ready.

Read Link's full statement 👇
https://www.linkairways.com/about-us/news/2026/05/07/Wollongong-Shellharbour-network-update-from-20-May-2026

Link Airways Wollongong Airport

22/04/2026

The SAAB 340 first flew in 1983. Over 450 were built. Production ended in 1999. And it's still the best aircraft for a route like Wollongong to Melbourne.

We've taken a close look at the aircraft that serves WOL — its history, what it's like to fly on, and why a 34-seat turboprop makes more sense here than a regional jet ever would.

Read it at the link below 👇

wollongongairport.com/saab-340-wollongong

20/04/2026

Qantas just told a government inquiry it makes 5% profit on its regional flights.

Five percent. Australia's biggest airline. On a good day.

So when someone asks why flying from Wollongong costs more than flying from Sydney — this is the answer. It's not gouging. It's the economics of running a 34-seat aircraft on a thin route, with spare parts that have doubled in price, airport charges that haven't budged, and engineering costs rising 19% a year.

We've written about what this means for the Illawarra — why the WOL fare is what it is, and why it's worth it.

Qantas just told a government inquiry it makes 5% profit on regional flights. Here's what that means for Wollongong — and why the fare is worth it.

14/04/2026

We timed it.

Door to gate at Wollongong Airport:
Park the car — 2 minutes from terminal ✅
Check in — 5 minutes ✅
No security screening ✅
Walk to gate — 2 minutes ✅

Total: about 10 minutes.

Door to gate at Sydney Airport:
Drive from Wollongong — 90 minutes ⏳
Parking — you really don't want to know 💸
Check in queue — 20+ minutes ⏳
Security screening — 15+ minutes ⏳
Terminal walk — 10 minutes ⏳

Wollongong Airport exists. Direct flights to Melbourne and Brisbane, four times a week. Free parking.

Just saying. 🤷

Book at www.linkairways.com

13/04/2026

Have you ever surprised someone by saying you flew from Wollongong?

Maybe it was a Melbourne colleague who assumed you drove to Sydney. Maybe it was family who didn't know the airport existed. Maybe it was you — the first time you realised you could just... park and fly from home.

We'd love to hear your story — and if you've got a photo from the trip, even better. Drop them in the comments 👇

The best ones remind us why this airport matters — and why more people in the Illawarra should know about it.

09/04/2026

Let's be honest. Everyone's thought it.

Why can't Jetstar fly to Wollongong? Why are we still on a 34-seat turboprop when the rest of eastern Australia gets Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s?

It's a fair question. And the answer is more interesting — and more complicated — than you might think.

Wollongong (Shellharbour) Airport can actually handle larger aircraft than it currently gets. The runway is long enough. The infrastructure is there. But there's a size limit — and it's not arbitrary.

We've looked at the numbers, the economics, and what it would actually take to get bigger jets flying into WOL. The short version: bigger is possible. But bigger isn't always better — and the history of this airport is littered with operators who got that calculation wrong.

Read the full piece 👇

A Wollongong Airport editorial on what the Master Plan really says about aircraft size, why the 737 dream won't happen, and why the Q400 is the right next step.

07/04/2026

Ever wondered what aircraft you're flying on from Wollongong?

Link Airways operates the SAAB 340B on every WOL service — and it's a better aircraft for this route than most people realise. No middle seat. Direct apron boarding. And the economics that keep the Illawarra connected to Melbourne and Brisbane four times a week.

We've written about the aircraft, what to expect on board, and why right-sizing matters for a route like ours.

👉

Link Airways operates the SAAB 340B on every WOL flight. Here's why it's the right aircraft for the Illawarra — and what to expect on board.

04/04/2026

03/04/2026

Skip the city. Fly from your backyard.

Direct flights to Melbourne and Brisbane from Wollongong. Free parking. Fast check-in. No detours through Sydney. Wollongong Airport Link Airways