UPDATE – Airport open
Published on 19 February 2025
Flights resume today from Armidale Airport
Following yesterday’s detailed examination of the runway pavement and the conclusion of rectification works to the runway, flight schedules for Qantas and Link Airways are resuming today.
Regular monitoring and inspections will be ongoing to ensure all airport compliance standards are met.
For the latest on the flight in and out of the airport please review the live schedule available on our website
We would like to take this opportunity to thank @EdwardsCoaches who supported ARC during the last two weeks to arrange buses to Tamworth, and to the airport contractor ground crews that stepped up and assisted the ARC team at the airport.
We are truly thankful to all of you for your support and understanding. To our airport tenants and to the Alternate Root Café team for your patience and support. And lastly to the travelling public whose travel plans were impacted by the closure, we thank you for understanding and for how quickly and with kindness you managed last minutes changes to your flights.
Bus schedule
Tuesday 18 February
Depart Armidale Depart Tamworth
9.30am 1.50pm
1.30pm 15.15pm
8.45pm
Wednesday 19 February
7am 10.45am
9.30am 1.50pm
1.30pm 5.15pm
8.45pm
Thursday 20 February
7am 10.45am
9.30am 1.50pm
1.30pm 5.15pm
8.45pm
Friday 21 February
Depart Armidale
4am
Armidale Airport closed - Update Thursday 20 February
Flights out of Armidale Regional airport will continue to operate out of Tamworth Airport today and council will provide a bus service from the Armidale Airport to connect with those flights leaving and arriving in Tamworth. ARC continues to work closely with Qantas to understand its scheduling requirements and the requirements for buses.
Resealing work is now complete. Minor technical issues yesterday delayed the pavement strength testing however the contractor was on site early and testing is now underway. This will determine if there are further soft spots that have yet to surface.
The pavement strength testing results will determine ARCs next steps in terms of the usability of the runway.
At this stage ARC have added an additional bus for Friday morning leaving Armidale Airport at 4am for the 6.50am departure for Tamworth. We are now waiting on the results from the pavement strength testing to determine whether flights can resume, or we need to continue with the bus schedule for tomorrow. A further update will be provided as soon as we have the results from the testing.
Thursday 20 February
Depart Armidale Depart Tamworth
7am 10.45am
9.30am 1.50pm
1.30pm 5.15pm
8.45pm
Friday 21 February
Depart Armidale
4am
ARMIDALE Airport closed - Update Wednesday 19 February
Armidale Airport continues to remain closed except for serious medivac.
Flights will continue to operate out of Tamworth Airport and council will provide a bus service from the Armidale Airport to connect with those flights leaving and arriving in Tamworth.
By the end of today resealing on the pavement will be complete. Specialist contractors are enroute to arrive at the airport this morning to complete pavement strength testing for issues we cannot see with the runway pavement.
This will determine if there are further soft spots that have yet to surface.
The pavement strength testing results will determine if the airport remains closed, opens for smaller aircraft, or reopens for unrestricted operations. If further works are required, they will be undertaken directly. If the test results are good, we will work with our airline partners to reinstate flights directly into Armidale as soon as possible.
ARMIDALE Airport closed - Update 18 February
Armidale Airport remains closed except for aircraft with prior permission to operate. This is to allow aircraft currently at the airport to depart and to also assist local aviation companies to relocate aircraft. Serious medivac will continue to operate.
Flights will continue to operate out of Tamworth Airport and council will provide a bus service from the Armidale Airport to connect with those flights leaving and arriving in Tamworth.
By the end of tomorrow the team working on the pavement will complete all known issues. Council is engaging specialist pavement strength contractors on Wednesday who will conduct testing for the issues we cannot see with the runway pavement. This will determine if there are further soft spots that have yet to surface.
The pavement strength testing results will determine if the airport remains closed, opens for smaller aircraft, or reopens for unrestricted operations. If further works are required, they will be undertaken directly. If the test results are good, we will work with our airline partners to reinstate flights directly into Armidale as soon as possible.
BUS SCHEDULE - Tuesday 18 February
Buses depart from Armidale Airport
7am
9.30am
1.30pm
8pm departure from Tamworth Airport to Armidale.
ARMIDALE AIRPORT CLOSED - Update 17 February
Inspections of the runway have revealed a new soft pavement area. Unfortunately this will require another closure, estimated for today (17 February).
Passengers on Qantas flights scheduled to leave this morning are being bused to Tamworth.
Work
crews are on-site. Council apologises for this disruption but safety of travellers is our priority.
Please reach out to your airline or booking agent for further instructions if you are scheduled to leave on a flight today.
Armidale Regional Airport Update - bus schedule
Depart Tamworth 8.30pm for Armidale Airport
Sunday 16 February bus departs Armidale Airport
7am
9.30am
1.30pm
Bus returns to Armidale with passengers arriving at Tamworth airport.
The bus timetable is aligning with the flight schedules we are receiving from the airline. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
Armidale Regional Airport Update | Reopening delayed until 6:30PM Sunday 16 February
Due to ongoing challenges relating to the rainfall received earlier in the week, we have had to delay the reopening of the Armidale Airport until Sunday 16 February at 6:30pm .
We are currently working to extend the existing bus service, and details on the bus schedule will follow once confirmed.
Our airline partners are also currently working through plans and will be in contact with affected passengers.
After consulting airport stakeholders this morning, the council has made the decision to continue the closure of Armidale Regional Airport until Saturday, 15 February.
Repetitive plant movement during planned scheduled maintenance work that is currently underway has caused underground water to destabilize the runway pavement, making it unsafe for planes to operate. The council is doing all it can and is directing all available resources and materials to the airport to address the issue. We will be installing subsoil drainage and rebuilding the subsoil areas of the affected pavement.
Unfortunately, all investigations prior to the commencement of the scheduled maintenance activity did not detect the issues that resulted in the pavement failure. The work to address the pavement repair will also involve dealing with significant underground water issues and will now align with the scheduled maintenance work already underway. This week’s weather forecast for predicted storms has also been taken into consideration.
Safety is our first priority, and we will complete the work as efficiently as we can, but we need to ensure the work is done to a very high standard.
Thank you for your understanding, and we apologise for the inconvenience this has caused the traveling public. Please reach out to your airline to make alternative travel arrangements.
To assist travellers impacted by these flight cancellations, council has organised bus transport between Armidale Regional Airport and Tamworth Regional Airport as below:
UPDATED Bus schedule | Armidale Regional Airport to/from Tamworth Airport (Tuesday 11 February and Wednesday 12 February)
Tuesday 11 February 2025
Depart Armidale 7am | Arrive Tamworth 9am for 10.15am departure
Depart Tamworth 10am for passengers arriving on 9:35am flight. Arrive Armidale 12pm
Depart Armidale 1.30pm | Arrive Tamworth 3.30pm for 5pm departure
Depart Tamworth 5pm from passengers on 4.30pm flight. Arrive Armidale 7pm
Depart Tamworth 8:30pm for final flight into Tamworth, arrive in Armidale 10:30pm.
Wednesday 12 February 2025
Depart Armidale 7am | Arrive Tamworth 9am for 10.15am departure
Depart Tamworth 10am for passengers arriving on 9:35am flight. Arrive Armidale 12pm
Depart Armidale 1.30pm | Arrive Tamworth 3.30pm for 5pm departure
Depart Tamworth 5pm from passengers on 4.30pm flight. Arrive Armidale 7pm
Depart Tamworth 8:30pm for final flight into Tamworth, arrive in Armidale 10:30pm.
Thursday 13 February 2025
Depart Armidale 7am | Arrive Tamworth 9am for 10.15am departure
Depart Tamworth 10am for passengers arriving on 9:35am flight. Arrive Armidale 12pm
Depart Armidale 9:30am. Arrive Tamworth 11:30am for 1.00pm dept.
Dept Tamworth 1.00pm with passengers arriving on 12.30pm flight. Arrive Armidale 3.00pm
Depart Armidale 1.30pm | Arrive Tamworth 3.30pm for 5pm departure
Depart Tamworth 5pm from passengers on 4.30pm flight. Arrive Armidale 7pm
Depart Tamworth 8:30pm for final flight into Tamworth, arrive in Armidale 10:30pm.
Friday 14 February 2025
Depart Armidale 7am | Arrive Tamworth 9am for 10.15am departure
Depart Tamworth 10am for passengers arriving on 9:35am flight. Arrive Armidale 12pm
Depart Armidale 9:30am. Arrive Tamworth 11:30am for 1.00pm dept.
Dept Tamworth 1.00pm with passengers arriving on 12.30pm flight. Arrive Armidale 3.00pm
Depart Armidale 1.30pm | Arrive Tamworth 3.30pm for 5pm departure
Depart Tamworth 5pm from passengers on 4.30pm flight. Arrive Armidale 7pm
Depart Tamworth 8:30pm for final flight into Tamworth, arrive in Armidale 10:30pm.
Saturday 15 February 2025
Depart Armidale 4am | Arrive Tamworth 6am for 6:45am departure from flight QF2281. (This bus will be departing at 4am so please ensure you arrive early to avoid missing this coach)