AUSTRALIA | The new Take Off Grant was introduced by the NSW State Government to entice new airline services to the NSW region.
The Minns Labor Government is inviting the aviation industry to apply for grants under the NSW Take Off Fund, a AUD 12.5 million program designed to attract new airline services and boost aviation capacity across the state.
The fund supports delivery of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which targets AUD 91 billion in visitor expenditure by 2035. Achieving this goal will require an additional 8.5 million airline seats, comprising 3.7 million international and 4.8 million domestic.
The fund will provide financial support to airlines that commit to launching new or additional services into NSW.
Aviation is a vital driver of visitation, regional connectivity and economic growth. The NSW Take Off Fund builds on previous NSW Government programs that have already secured major new routes and created more than 25,000 jobs across the state, including 15,000 direct jobs.
Through previous Aviation initiatives, NSW’s three international gateways, Sydney, Western Sydney and Newcastle, are gaining strong momentum.
Sydney Airport has added new international routes to major global hubs, including Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) and Shanghai (Juneyao Air), while increasing capacity to India, South Korea and Southeast Asia.
At Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), Air New Zealand will commence services from Auckland in mid-2027, joining Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Jetstar as inaugural airline partners and supporting the airport’s goal of reaching 10 million annual passengers.
Newcastle Airport has also expanded its network, securing new routes from Perth (Qantas), Hobart (Jetstar) and Denpasar (Jetstar), supported by the opening of its new international terminal.
“NSW is competing on a global stage for new air routes, and the NSW Take Off Fund gives us the tools to stay ahead,” said Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper.
The Minns Labor Government is pulling every lever we can to grow the NSW visitor economy through crucial practical investment to attract more airlines, more seats and more visitors, helping us reach our goal of AUD 91 billion in visitor expenditure by 2035.
“By partnering with airports and airlines, we’re building the aviation capacity that will keep growing our visitor economy for decades to come.”
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