Here are 10 interesting facts about Wagga Wagga Airport in Australia. It is more than an interesting name and international travel hub. Did you know that one of Australia’s most successful World War 1 fighter pilots played a key role in its creation? How about the airport’s connection to royalty? Keep reading to find some of the most interesting facts about Wagga Wagga Airport.
1. It Supports Two Regional Airlines
Australia’s major airlines, QantasLink and Regional Express (REX), fly out of Wagga Wagga Airport. These commercial airlines carry passengers to and from Melbourne and Sydney daily. Several private charter companies also service the airport, so it’s common for passengers to consider hiring a private plane for a short trip to Sydney or Melbourne.
2. It Has Capacity for 225,000 Annual Passengers
Wagga Wagga Airport can carry almost one-quarter of a million passengers every year. That’s nearly 5,000 passengers each week. The airport operated at near total capacity up until 2019, and figures are getting closer to pre-pandemic levels each year.
3. Home to the Australian Airline Pilot Academy
The Australian Airline Pilot Academy opened in May 2010 after relocating from Victoria. Up to 200 cadets live and train at the campus at any one time, and the academy is home to a fleet of Piper PA-44 Seminoles and Piper PA-28 Warriors. It also has a full-flight simulator to keep both cadets and licensed pilots sharp.
4. It is Located Next To RAAF Wagga Air Base
The air base was founded under the direction of WW1 top-scoring Ace Harry Cobby. He requested somebody find a suitable location for the base, and the current location in Forest Hill was selected. This came after the Mayor of Junee, some 40 km away, suggested that Junnee was a more appropriate location. He claimed that Junnee was flatter, less susceptible to fog, and could offer railway workshops to repair aircraft.
Opening in July 1940, the base was established to train graduates of the Elementary Flying Training Schools. Only after WW2 ended did the need for commercial flights become significant. A new hangar was built to accommodate civilian aviation, and a refueling facility was developed.
5. An Airport With a Royal Connection
In the 1950s, the development of large commercial aircraft required a new bitumen runway at the airport. Construction of this runway was hurried to accommodate Elizabeth II’s visit to Wagga Wagga on her Royal Tour in February 1954. The development was a success and completed in time for the visit.
6. It is at the Heart of the Regional Economy
In a plan drafted to outline the 20-year growth of the airport in 2010, it was planned to develop a new passenger terminal to support the arrival of Boeing 737 jets. A year later, the local council received $650,000 from the federal government for new screening and security systems. Douglas Aerospace Maintenance Facility also opened at the airport in 2012, bringing clients across military and commercial sectors and adding over 40 jobs to the local economy.
7. The Future of Wagga Wagga Airport Is At Stake
The council’s 30-year lease, signed in 1995, will expire in 2025. Celia Perkins, deputy secretary of security and estate at defense, has spoken on the issue, saying, “There are no further options for that lease arrangement. What we are planning — and we have had conversations and negotiations with Wagga City Council — would be an approach to market for an arrangement to come into effect from June 2025.”
Local groups have been vocal in their support of extending the agreement, but no confirmed decision has been made.
8. A Crucial Link to Australia’s Biggest Cities
Just over one hour’s flight time to both Sydney and Melbourne and at the heart of Snowy Valleys, Wagga Wagga is the perfect hub to travel to some of the country’s most exciting destinations. With city breaks growing increasingly popular, Wagga Wagga Airport is a gateway to a world of opportunity.
9. One of the 50 Busiest Airports in Australia
With an average annual count of over 200,000 passengers each year, Wagga Wagga is one of the 50 busiest airports in Australia and one of the busiest regional airports in New South Wales. For context, the busiest airport in New South Wales, Sydney Airport (also the busiest in Australia as a whole), plays host to an average of nearly 40,000,000 passengers annually.
10. There Are No Public Transport Links to Wagga Wagga Airport
You must plan your trip to and from Wagga Wagga Airport in advance. You can hire a car with a range of rental companies at the airport, and there is also a taxi rank outside the airport. A taxi into the city center will cost between $30–40, and groups can also book the airport shuttle or private cars. There are no public transport options from or to the airport.
Time For Departure
With a rich history of military, commercial, and passenger flights, Wagga Wagga Airport is essential and cherished in the region and country as a whole. Hopefully, this will continue into the future, allowing many more locals and tourists to use it as a gateway into the Australian countryside.
