Newcastle Williamtown airport on the east coast of Australia will be ready for international operations by the end of the year, following the announcement of an USD635,000 investment by the NSW state government. Likely destinations include AKL, DPS, and NAN.

The USD1.4 million project will fit the airport out for additional security, passport control and border force equipment. "When this project is finished we will be one step closer to being ready for international flights," airport Chief Executive Peter Cock told The Newcastle Herald.

NSW Minister for Instructure Andrew Constance says that going international is the logical next step for the regional airport, which is located 150 kilometres north of SYD.

"The estimated population serviced by the airport is 1.2 million people, which could open a major new market to carriers to offer local convenience for people travelling from north of Sydney to overseas destinations," Constance said.

Newcastle will become the second international airport for the state of New South Wales. Plans for a new airport at Badgerys Creek in western Sydney have stalled for decades and have only recently gotten the go-ahead, with the new facility due to be completed in the mid-2020s.

Newcastle airport currently has a weekly capacity of 16,400 seats, with services provided by Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, Qantas, REX - Regional Express and FlyPelican. It connects to eastern capital cities as well as nearby regional centers.

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