Shellharbour Airport is the Illawarra’s shortcut to the skies. Photo: Shellharbour Airport.
Each fortnight, in the time it would take Pascal Perez to battle Sydney traffic, pay eye-watering parking fees and queue at Kingford-Smith Airport, he’s already touching down at Melbourne’s Tullamarine.
The Gerringong man would not have accepted his interstate job if it weren’t for the shortcut to the skies located 15 minutes from his home: Shellharbour Airport.
“I’ve been doing it for three years now. If, for some reason, Shellharbour Airport ever stopped flying to Melbourne and I had to factor in the time, the traffic jams, the fuel, the parking fees of flying from Sydney, it would be unsustainable,” he says.
Instead, he takes a short, easy drive to the regional airport, parks his car – for free – right next door and sails through the queue-free terminal and onto the tarmac.
“It couldn’t be easier,” he says.
If it sounds far-fetched, you’ve likely never experienced the simplicity of a regional airport and you’re missing out.
Shellharbour Airport, owned and operated by Shellharbour City Council, launched in its current form in 2021, following a $420 million upgrade that included a new terminal and car park development.
Link Airways flies direct to Brisbane and Melbourne, with passengers able to connect onto Virgin services to earn and use Velocity points and continue on to domestic or international destinations without the hassle of rechecking luggage.
“Some say the trade-off is higher air fares. I guess in theory I could save some money flying with a major carrier from Sydney, but when you factor in the cost of travel and parking, it’s better overall value,” Pascal says. “Not to mention, the convenience.”
“Convenience” is the magic word — the airport’s greatest drawcard, according to Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer.
He says for people across the Illawarra, the airport offers a simpler, faster alternative to Sydney; one that puts travel within easier reach of the whole community.
“This is a gateway airport for the whole region, from northern Illawarra right down to the south coast. They don’t have to contend with traffic, tolls, long queues or expensive parking to fly,” he says. “That convenience is a game-changer for people who need to fly frequently, but also to families, older travellers and people with disability.”
The airport’s cafe, with its rural views out to the escarpment, is a social enterprise operated by Greenacres Disability Services, offering inclusive and meaningful employment opportunities for people with disability.
Combined with step-free access throughout the terminal, a wheelchair lift to the aircraft, hearing loop systems, adult change facilities and overhead lifting equipment, passenger assistance devices for boarding, Braille signage and participation in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, the airport has established itself as a fully accessible airport, which isn’t the norm for regional airports.
“We’ve had some amazing testimonials from the disability sector, about how this airport has opened things up for people with disability,” Cr Homer said.
Cr Homer said as the Illawarra grew, with the steelworks poised to become one of the largest industrial developments in the world, and a growing number of people calling the Illawarra home, Shellharbour Airport would evolve to meet rising demand.
However, convenience would always remain a hallmark of the regional airport.
“As we hopefully open more routes to the eastern seaboard in the future, we will continue to masterplan the airport in that way, with ease and convenience in mind,” he says.
“In the meantime, if you’re looking for the stress-free, seamless flying option, Shellharbour Airport is it.”
For more information visit Shellharbour Airport.
