Flights will stop operating from Shellharbour as of 20 May, with no certainty if they’ll ever return. Photo: Region.
The only airline that operates out of Shellharbour Airport has announced it is ceasing flights due to rising fuel costs and dropping demand, with the uncertainty of the service’s future causing frustration for travellers and disappointment within the Illawarra community.
Link Airways has been operating near-empty flights from the Illawarra using jet fuel that has almost doubled in cost since the start of the year.
“This whole onset of increased fuel prices has been pretty dramatic and pretty sudden,” Link Airways network strategy and development manager Jeff Boyd said.
“We’re only a 34-seat airplane and it’s costing roughly $800 an hour more just in fuel to operate than before the Middle East conflict.
“That’s a lot of money to try and spread across a few passengers.”
The airline recently increased fares across the board which still hasn’t been enough to cover costs, and with services to and from Shellharbour to Brisbane and Melbourne only around 30 per cent occupied and highly sensitive to fare price increases, the decision was made to press pause on them altogether.
“There were other routes in Queensland that were affected, not as bad as the Illawarra,” Jeff said.
“It has impacted so badly and quickly, the numbers we got in for last month were pretty shocking.
“The forecast numbers for the next few weeks are very dismal.”
The airline released a statement saying that flights would be suspended effective from Wednesday 20 May and that they would “continue to monitor the market closely and look to return to Wollongong when demand recovers”.
“The number one thing would be to see fuel prices come down close to where they were before, then Shellharbour is quite seasonal as well so winter is our quietest time anyway on that route, so if we can see the weather warming up and the fuel price coming down and a bit more consumer confidence then we’ll look to come back,” Jeff said.
But if things don’t change, the Shellharbour flights could be grounded for good.
“It depends on what happens – if the prices don’t change of fuel and the circumstances don’t change then yes, we’re not coming back,” Jeff said.
“Alternatively if the Federal Government decided to start supporting some of these regional services rather than just one airline, that would make a difference as well.”
Link Airways network strategy and development manager Jeff Boyd confirmed the decision was sudden, with next steps still in the air. Photo: Supplied.
That uncertainty has frustrated community members like Fran Nelson.
“It’s 10 minutes from my front door, you only have to be there 15 minutes ahead of schedule. You pop your suitcase in, the people are friendly, you walk to the plane and you’re on. It’s such an effortless system,” she said.
“But you drive to Sydney, it’s an hour and a half, but you’ve got to give an extra half hour just in case; at the airport it’s an absolute nightmare and you’ve got to find parking or you have to have somebody drop you off or you have to have a courier drive you there. Then you’ve got to be at the airport two hours ahead. So in fact to fly to Melbourne or Brisbane it takes up a whole day because on the other side you then have to wait for your luggage.”
She is in the process of downsizing, with a retirement plan to travel more to visit friends in Brisbane and Melbourne, however she is now reconsidering her options.
“I just don’t see myself doing all that rigmarole getting to Sydney and finding a place for my car overnight,” Fran said.
“I was just so disappointed and I thought I’ve got to rethink the way I’m going to do things.”
Fran said there were still many in the community who didn’t know the service was even there and that better promotion could’ve helped increase numbers rather than cancelling a service which could become more vital in the future.
“It’s a growing area – look at Calderwood, Shell Cove, Tullimbar, Yellow Rock – the population here is expanding, so there must be more and more people who could make use of it, ” she said.
“With Shell Cove, a lot of wealthy people are moving into Shell Cove; people are building houses on blocks of land there that cost close to two million dollars; those people could afford to fly locally.”
Shellharbour Council, which owns the airport, said it would continue to work with airline partners to support the return of passengers.
“We recognise this decision has not been taken lightly, reflecting the challenging environment and broader cost pressures affecting businesses and households. While we understand these realities, we know this news will be disappointing for our community,” a council spokesperson said.
“Shellharbour Airport is a key economic driver that supports connectivity, business, tourism and essential travel. Council values its long‑standing relationship with Link Airways and is continuing to work with the airline as we manage this transition.”
That economic boost from the airport could ripple on through the entire region, as it adds an extra barrier to those looking to enter and exit quickly.
“Hopefully this is all temporary and we get back to business as usual soon but it’s the reality we’re living in and making alternate arrangements in the meantime,” Destination Wollongong general manager Jeremy Wilshire said.
“It will affect the corporate sector in terms of efficiently coming into the region.”
But while the flight path to the region may be closed, a tourism shift to focus on the road could be a solution.
“Our main sector from a visitor economy point of view is a self-drive market,” Jeremy said.
“There are pressures there as well in terms of fuel prices but I’d like to think that’s actually an opportunity for us, given our proximity to both Sydney and Canberra, a target market of over six million people within a couple of hours, that provides us with the chance to position ourselves as an attractive proposition for an easy, efficient and affordable short stay, but we just have to look about the silver lining and be smart about how we are promoting the region.”
Anyone with Link Airways flights booked from Shellharbour beyond 20 May will be provided a full refund.
