| Moree Airport | |
| Iata: | MRZ |
| Icao: | YMOR |
| Type: | Public |
| Operator: | Moree Plains Shire Council |
| Location: | Moree, New South Wales |
| Elevation-F: | 701 |
| Coordinates: | -29.4989°N 149.8447°W |
| Pushpin Map: | New South Wales |
| Pushpin Label: | YMOR |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in New South Wales |
| Website: | www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au |
| Metric-Rwy: | Y |
| R1-Number: | 01/19 |
| R1-Length-M: | 1,613 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| R2-Number: | 05/23 |
| R2-Length-M: | 977 |
| R2-Surface: | Gravel |
| Stat-Year: | 2021-22 |
| Stat1-Header: | Passengers |
| Stat1-Data: | 18,073 |
| Stat2-Header: | Aircraft movements |
| Stat2-Data: | 874* |
| Footnotes: |
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Moree Airport is an airport in Moree, New South Wales, Australia. The airport is 5km (03miles) from the city centre. The airport has some scheduled services but mainly provides general aviation facilities, maintenance and support for agricultural aviation in the local area.[2] The Moree Aero Club has been based at the airport since 1952, and today provides aircraft hire and flight training. The club was instrumental in providing many early improvements to the aerodrome facilities, including hangars and a terminal building.[3] In the 2021-22 Financial Year, Moree Airport handled 18,073 passengers, down from approximately 35,000 per year before travel restrictions were introduced as a result of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
Moree airport has two operational runways. The primary runway 01/19 is sealed with an asphalt surface 1613x. This runway is equipped with pilot-operated lighting for night operations, as well as precision approach path indicator installations at each end. A secondary runway 05/23 is located on the western side of the field and is 977x. Although this runway strip itself is constructed from gravel, the central 10m (30feet) is maintained as a sealed surface.[1] The airport does not have a control tower as the typical volume of traffic is not high. Pilots are required to communicate via a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to safely co-ordinate arrivals and departures. A Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) to the west of the airport is the only navigational aid.[1]
The small passenger terminal and apron are located on the eastern side of the airport, with road access off the Newell Highway. On the western side of the airport is an area primarily used to support agricultural crop spraying and other associated airwork.
The Moree-Sydney route is one of 14 within New South Wales regulated by the state government.[5] Prior to 30 March 2013, the route had been served by up to 20 weekly QantasLink flights, using Bombardier Dash 8 turboprop airliners. Controversially, this ended with the awarding of the licence to Brindabella Airlines on behalf of Transport New South Wales following a tender process. The move was met by considerable opposition within the Moree community, with concerns being raised about a lack of consultation, reduced baggage allowance, loss of frequent flyer program benefits as well as smaller aircraft operating the route and less operational flexibility in the event of delays or cancellations.[6] Prior to 27 January 2012, Brindabella Airlines operated weekday services to Brisbane, but these flights ceased after the company reviewed services to the region following a merger with Aeropelican,[7] a move which damaged the airline's reputation in the local community. In December 2013, concerns relating to overdue maintenance on some of its aircraft led to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority grounding Brindabella Airlines. The airline was subsequently put into receivership and ceased operations,[8] with the Sydney-Moree route licence returning to QantasLink.
In July 2016, Fly Corporate announced that it would begin services between Moree and Brisbane from August 2016 using Fairchild Metro aircraft.[9] The airline withdrew from the route in March 2019.[10]
| Passenger numbers | ||
| 2007–08 | 25,641 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | 25,625 | |
| 2009–10 | 26,976 | |
| 2010–11 | 28,047 |