Tamworth Airport is a regional airport serving Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. It is located from the town centre, on New Winton Road. The airport is owned and operated by the Tamworth Regional Council and is listed as being west of the city. It is also known as Tamworth Regional Airport.
Tamworth Airport is the northern base of the Hunter Valley Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service.
History No. 6 Elementary Flying Training School of the Royal Australian Air Force was formed in 1940, during World War II, at the original airfield (located in what is now the Taminda industrial area) as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme. Training included 50 hours of basic aviation instruction on a simple trainer like the Tiger Moth. Pilots who showed promise went on to advanced training at a Service Flying Training School. Others went on to different specialties, such as Wireless Schools, Air Observer Schools or Bombing and Gunnery Schools. The RAAF airfield went on to become the original home of East-West Airlines after World War II.
In 1951 a decision was taken to relocate the aerodrome with the council commencing construction in 1952 and the official opening of the new airport in 1956. In 1977 East-West Airlines opened a maintenance facility at the airport.Tamworth Facility Australian Transport June 1977 page 22
The airport received a further upgrade to medium jet standard in 1982. The addition of the parallel runway and associated facility expansion was undertaken between 1990 and 1993 as part of the establishment of a British Aerospace / Ansett pilot training joint venture which has evolved into the BAE Systems college.
East-West's maintenance facility closed in 1992 and was repurposed by fellow Ansett Transport Industries subsidiary Ansair as a bus bodying facility.Eastwest cuts Australian Aviation issue 72 November 1991 page 17Ansair opens new bus plant at Tamworth Truck & Bus Transportation October 1993 page 90
BAE Systems withdrew from Tamworth Airport in 2020 and the college facilities were re-branded as International Flight Training Tamworth (IFTT), under the ownership of Tamworth Regional Council, with CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Tamworth remaining on site.
The Tamworth Airport terminal expansion was completed in June 2012, to facilitate the commencement of passenger screening. A further expansion was carried out in 2014 to accommodate operations by additional carriers.
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the flight training school was converted into accommodation for the local boarding school Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School to comply with social distancing regulations.
Facilities The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 12L/30R measuring and 12R/30L measuring . It also has two runways with a grassed brown clay surface: 18/36 measuring and 06/24 measuring . The latest terminal upgrade was completed in 2019 with an enlarged departure lounge, new cafe and hire car facilities, relocated and enlarged Qantas lounge in addition to a multipurpose function room and airport administration office.
Airlines and destinations
In May 2015 Virgin Australia commenced operating services from Sydney to Tamworth.Virgin Australia to serve Tamworth from May Australian Aviation issue 325 April 2015 page 17Virgin Australia brings competition to Tamworth Virgin Australia 4 March 2015 It ceased in September 2020.Virgin Australia walks away from 10 flight routes with regional centres affected across the country ABC News 9 September 2020
Statistics Tamworth Airport was ranked 38th in Australia for the number of revenue passengers served in financial year 2022–2023.Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
References