The return A320 service will operate three times per week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, adding around 1,100 seats per week between the two cities. When combined with Jetstar’s existing Sydney route, the airline will carry up to 3,800 passengers per week to and from Hervey Bay.

This milestone flight marks the first, public successful flight of a sixth-generation combat aircraft, with Northrop Grumman describing the aircraft as the world’s “first sixth-generation aircraft” and a major step change for the US Air Force’s global strike capabilities.

The airport saw almost 14.2 million passengers in FY23, up 6.8 million on the previous year and 8.3 million on FY21, which saw the worst of the COVID-19 border closures. The profit comes despite revenue per passenger remaining below pre-COVID levels.

Airfield ground lighting upgrades will take place over coming months. Works requiring nighttime runway closures, which were scheduled to finish this year, will now wrap up in March 2024 due to delays in government approvals.