Is Sydney’s Shortest Flight Actually Worth It? 25 minutes Sydney to Newcastle with FlyPelican 

Thanks for watching! You can help support this channel by just clicking Like and Subscribe, these videos cost me money to make so if you would like to help me make more of this content you can click the SUPER THANKS button, or join as a channel member or patron where you will get extra videos and more. 🙏 Please let me know what you think about this video - I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Thanks for watching, your support means a lot!

The French guy was the check in guy, the guy at the gate and the bus driver. I totally expected him to be the pilot too

I feel like this would make for a top-gear style challenge. One person drives, another takes the train and another flies.

The pilot doing the preflight announcements by just talking instead of over the PA was interesting, especially asking if there were any questions at the end! Nice video

Hey Josh, Novacastrian here mate. Its a super wee service between NTL and SYD. I use it whenever flying internationally as it saves the 2.5 hrs commute from Newcastle to Sydney Airport and vice versa (especially when flying into Oz of a morning from O/S) and you want to short cut the traffic. The service makes plenty of sense for people of Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens. Long may it continue. P.S I remember the days of flying Rose Bay to Newcastle Harbour in the 90's on the seaplane. That was the ultimate shortcut.

FlyPelican used to have several flights out of Dubbo. Caught it with my small boys from there to Ballina in 2021, sitting in row one. My 1 year old sitting on my lap threw a pencil into the back of the cockpit… pilot noticed and gave me a smile… but I was MORTIFIED!

Great video, Josh! The 25-minute flight from Sydney to Newcastle sounds quick, but considering airport procedures, it takes about 1.5-2 hours in total. Trains take around 2.5-3 hours and are much cheaper at AUD $10-$20. Each option has its pros and cons. Thanks for the detailed review! 🚂✈

I used to love catching the old Aero Pelican Twin Otters from Pelican Airport back in the 90's. My work had a book of pre-paid paper tickets, you'd take one (no booking required), turn up and get on the first flight with a seat available. It was like catching a bus! You'd take off over the lake or ocean with stunning views and fly low and slow down the coast and usually over Sydney Harbour into SYD. It truly was one of the world's best flight experiences. And with no waiting time it was by far and away the quickest way to travel between Newcastle and Sydney.

the beauty of the aeropelican flight is when you are coming home.. so much better than getting off a plane and grinding through traffic to get back to Newcastle after you've been away on business or holidays..

Something about flying on a smaller plane actually makes me feel a lot more at ease. The pilot and crew just seem a bit more relaxed. Crazy there isn't a door closing the cockpit, I thought that would have to be standard on any commercial plane, cool to see!! Again makes me feel more at ease, if the pilot in the cockpit is chillin'.. I'm chillin' haha. Great vid man.

I took the XPT from SYD to Broadmeadow 2 years ago and I got so restless during the trip that I wondered if there were flights back to Sydney the next day. I was lucky to find out that FlyPelican was running a "$72 within 72hrs" special and I took the flight from NTL back to SYD. Smallest plane I'd been on before was an A320. FlyPelican staff were super nice, especially the pilot had a great chat with us before takeoff. Awesome experience and I recommend it to everyone to try at least once.

I didn't even know there was a Sydney to Newcastle flight!! 😂I actually drove up to Newcastle yesterday, in hindsight I should've taken the plane!

It's a shame Fly Pelican pulled out of Bathurst in 2022. They cited insufficient pax numbers, which being understandable, I can't really see Sydney-Newie having many pax number either. I hope you fly Link from Orange to Melbourne or Brisbane one day. Whilst expensive, it does seem like an interesting way to go.

Newcastle here. The flight only makes sense when you are connecting in Sydney to other flights. My partner at the time used it to go to work from Newcastle when it went from Newcastle Belmont. It was a fibro house acting as a terminal. You could drop off passengers within a few metres of the plane five minutes before taking off. If you had to park, it was 10m away and free. The regulars barely broke their stride walking from their car to the plane with “checkin” happening as you walked onto the airfield.

This flight is mostly used as a connection to get Newcastle residents to or from Sydney for further domestic or international travel. I used it back in the day when I lived in Newie and was travelling to seeing friend and rellies in New Zealand. Easier than taking a train, going to the airport, etc etc. More relaxing too.

I've taken the Pelican flight between NTL and SYD many times because I used to work in NTL. Nice video to reminisce the good old days.

I've taken this once from Newcastle to Sydney because of an early morning meeting in Sydney and because it's only a10 minute taxi ride from where I live to Newcastle Airport. Expensive but its nice to have the kinds of views you get from a (relatively) low flying aircraft.

Just to add onto extra info of the the original AeroPelican airport. The airport closed in the early 2000's and it was originally run by Ansett Australia. Then it laid dormant for nearly a decade before being converted into a skydiving airport.

My first commercial flight was with Aeropelican, as it was called then, from the old airport at Belmont in 1990. When I got to Sydney I asked how to get to the international terminal. This was before the train. I thought there would be a shuttle bus. There wasn’t. The only way around was by taxi. But it was fun adventure anyway.

I worked on the airport line. For those that don't know, nothing from Green Square to Wolli Creek pre-existed so all the tunnels, tracks and five stations were all built from scratch by a gov/business partnership. It is still privately operated, although the original builders could not make a go of it and sold it off. The airport line will revert back to public ownership in 2030.

I used to fly the SYD - Newcastle route after travelling from the other steelworks town - Whyalla in South Australia. That wa in the 1980s and 90s. Since I was flying into Sydney, continuing by air was the obvious choice. Those were the days of the real Aeropelican flying DeHaviland twin otters. Also turboprop but smaller than the jetstream that you flew and the destination was Pelican airport south of Newcastle. A truly wonderful journey at relatively low altitude (ie good views) along the coast. While I agree that your flight was good, my experience of flying your route into Williamstown (Newcastle) airport is that it is not as good as my Pelican memories I have driven from Sydney a few times and that also has nice scenery and can be done in 2 - 2 1/2 hours. The train from Central can be as little as 2hr 9 min but is more commonly nearer to 3 hours. That too is a very scenic route which I am happy to recommend. The train is also the cheapest costing only AUD 4 - 8.

Funnily enough I've been meaning to research this, work remotely in Newcastle for a company based in Mascot, so have considered this option, seems like the train is still the go for my office visits.

Used to work at Newcastle Airport. The Fly Pelican pilots were always the most down to earth and friendly blokes. You usually have one very experienced pilot and a young pilot getting his hours up before applying for jetstar/qantas. The most common users of the newcastle to sydney flight were businessmen who day hire a car. Also going through security at Newcastle is quick and simple, you don't need to be flying. Lot of people go through security just to sit and watch the F35 jets.

Great video, subbed 😊

Loved this video. ❤ thanks Josh.

Thanks Josh , great TR, this took me back in time to when I flew Pelican in the Jetstream back into SYD from NTL, your trip utilising the train has got me thinking yeah it would be good to do that one day

Your editing and music is great!

13:30 from central would get you to Newcastle cbd by 4pm. Ironically quicker by the time you get from ntl to town

Flew with Pelican a few years ago direct from ADL to NTL on a Friday afternoon. Plane was a ~30yo Fokker (can't remember the model). Was the best flight I've had to date.

Hi Josh, excellent video, and been waiting for someone to cover such a unique and interesting little air route that one! Additionally, the ground handling for Fly Pelican from check in, to the ramp, is actually contracted to Rex, so it was a friendly Rex staff member that checked you in and boarded you all. Now to head out to Dubbo and try another interesting RPT route with Air Link 😜

What a friendly check-in agent! Taking a flight with FlyPelican is high on my bucket list, this video has reinforced that

My father used to frequent the FlyPelican (Areopelican) flights to Sydney a lot back in the 80's. His firm was sending him to China to consult in the development of chemical refineries there. So those flights were really meant for business purposes.

This was so much better when they operated out of Aeropellican airport in the Twin Otter’s!

As a Melburnian only thing I'm jealous of Sydney is your airport train. Whether it's special or not at least you have it. Ours is in the works but can't see it up & running for at least 5 years or more

Your at the train station, get a train, especially an express train, check that option out. In your 1 hour wait, you'd probably nearly be there.

I once flew from Newcastle to Sydney on a Fokker Friendship. This was 1971. The flight attendant came around with a ‘hot scone’ tea/coffee! I’d only half finished when the cups/plates were collected before landing. Now I fly from NZ to Brisbane and only receive a small quantity of water. Things were certainly better back in the day!

Great review mate. Newcastle airport is also a RAAF base .

I liked this - you made me giggle about the loo and not being able to wait for 20 minutes. Now do one from sydney to Armidale. My mates mum is about to kick the bucket and I want to be up there for him as emotional support. :)

Very nice report, enjoyed it much. I would have quickly made the change to sit on the left side of the aircraft to watch the views of the city, would've been spectacular.

Thanks for your insightful and at times, funny and ironical video. I liked your take on the seventeen dollar surcharge on the train when it turned out to be a normal suburban one. Melbourne.

Me and the Mrs loved the vids mate, they provided a odd comfort

I did the reverse trip a few years back for a $100 hamburger, it was a great day! love Flypelican

Like this mans content!

I've taken a similar 20 minute fight but mine was International. Seattle Washington USA to Vancouver British Columbia Canada. 220km. We had to be there 90 minute's before the flight to do Immigration.

6:20 that is so cool!

This flight actually used to be a connecting flight to Taree. This ceased a couple of years ago, so now it's just a flight to Newcastle

A coastal ferry service would be interesting

I did this trip in about 1999 when it was a tiny 6 sixter with no toilet. There was rain in Newcastle and we had a delayed landing. As I had not realised it was such a small plane and had drunk a few free beers in the QANTAS lounge before leaving SYD, and I was *desperate* by the time I got the airport building.

I'm very surprised that the cockpit doors were open. Nice flight excellent video

Now Dungog, to Newcastle Interchange, bus to NTL, then flight to Sydney, then domestic train station to Goulburn.

How's it compare to the bus though?

Well done promoting the “little guys”, great video, thank you for sharing this

In the late 1970 I was on a flight from Sydney to Canberra which took only 18 minutes from take off till landed, faster than this flight.

What a legend flying this route on the mighty J32.

Excellent

Hey mate great video, you should do Qantas link next Sydney to port Macquarie or on a Rex Regional flight to Canberra be amazing

Wow i wanna take this flight purely for the cockpit view!!!

Hey mate what do you Film on! Great vid good shots

Looks like a nice flight to load up into flight sim.

Surely you’d only use this flight to connect. Why else would you bother?!

Enjoyed the video. I guess it works for some people but for a lot of people who actually live in Sydney who have access to a car this flight makes no sense at all. The drive from my place to Lake Macquarie is 1 hour 22 minutes. My place to the centre of Newcastle is 1:50-ish. If I were to get this flight, for me to drive to Sydney airport is about 40 minutes, costs about $19 in tolls, add in short stay parking and it's dire. I just did some public-transport trip-planning from my place to Sydney airport - One bus, 3 trains, trip time 90 - 120 minutes hehehe- hopeless. Thanks for the video!

Get off at Mascot station, catch the bus, for an extra 15 minutes it saves you $14, definitely worth it to avoid price gouging... Next video should be racing 2 people from Sydney to Newcastle CBD on plane vs train, or something similar like Sydney to Canberra, a few times I actually have beaten the plane

Sydney-Newcastle, much like Sydney-Canberra, only makes sense if connecting through Sydney; or perhaps if you work at one of the airports and can remove one of the airport-city transfers.

last year back in september when i was in sydney i took the train from central to gosford and that is on the way to newcastle so i took the train from central to gosford and back and it was hour each way there and back

Would be great apart from the fact of how far away NTL is from the actual CBD.

I used to drive those trains. The 13:45 all stations would've got you to Newcastle Interchange at 16:45. Or the 13:15 express (a more comfortable V set) would've got you there at 16:02. That said - looks like a repositioning flight to me. And if you were starting from the airport, not Central station, and used a taxi at the other end, you could get that time down pretty significantly. An interesting exercise. I wouldn't want to rely on it though. Might be useful if the trains sh!t themselves again though. Heck of a lot cheaper than a taxi - I should know, I've been put in a few taxis when the rail network has had a bad day.....

As you said only point is to connect to international/domestic flights

I caught that special train every day to and from Revesby for more than 12 years luckily I didn't pay the airport surcharge but I used to see families or groups going to the city in the morning who would have at that time been better off getting a taxi door to door or even transferring between international and domestic instead of the free bus, a sad rip off for visitors back then😢

Williamtown Airport is great for Port Stephens. Anywhere south of Newcastle it’s at least an hour drive, punitive parking rates and the most over the top security anywhere. I think they are concerned you will run the 2 km to the military planes and attack them with your penknife. When Aeropelican flew from Belmont it was worthwhile for residents from Newcastle south to Gosford, avoiding the long drive. Security was a waist high cyclone wire gate to keep children and animals off the strip. A bygone age.

Now try getting back to Newcastle interchange from the airport.

In what world does the train take 30 minutes to get from Central to Domestic unless you go around the city circle. It is a 10 minute trip. It also isn't advertised as a special airport train either.

Well irs begter then going down the m1 takes like 3 boues to get there on train (to the airport)

Only other reason to do this would be to make a connection in or out of sydney

IFE really great

Bronwyn Bishop would approve, as long as it was expensive. 🚁🛩️🍸🥪

Remember, load the minimum amount onto an opal, get off at the airport, and throw the card away! The card now has a negative $15 balance 😂

We flew Aeropelican many times when it operated out of Pelican near Belmont. It was a great commute for people living in Lake Macquarie someone could drop you at the airport or you get a taxi fairly cheaply, it was only a 20 minute flight to the Sydney domestic terminal then a quick shuttle across to the International. Flying anywhere from Williamtown makes little sense for Lake Macquarie residents it takes an hour just to drive up there. I can drive to Sydney in 90 minutes. Maybe if you live in Newcastle city or Port Stephens its Ok but from the southern side of the city its pretty useless. For the 7th biggest city in Australia our airport facilities are a joke its situated nowhere near the major population centres and the transport links to the airport are rubbish. Once on a flight from Sydney Gus Gould and Ricky Stewart (NRL) were sitting in seats across the aisle from us they had been laughing and joking about the size of the plane all the way until we landed in Belmont. Everything went into full lock trying to pull the plane up before the runway ran out and we ended up in the lake. It was just the normal landing at Pelican but I reckon that pair left grooves in the arm rests because they had been gripping them that hard. We miss the Aeropelican flights from Pelican it used to be one of our favourites.

Driving door to door is 1.5hrs. Travel on each end of the flight, waiting, delays and the like make a round trip 2+ hrs easily and you are just at newcastle airport which is nowhere near newcastle. Its williamstown. Even canberra ,3 hrs from sydney is faster by car. Its door to door.

It’s probably only worth it if you are connecting from another flight or you are needing to fly into Sydney to connect to another flight

Looks light a far more delightful way to travel compared to your buses down to Sydney

AERO DUCK RULES !

Pelican flight sounds funny

25 minutes to the airport, in the middle of nowhere

Mate of mine is a pilot for this company,,

Weights and balances …. Sitting forward

No door locking off the pilots? So they don’t expect terrorists on small planes?

believe me, it is better than risking your life with the worst drivers in the world. The worst is, that THEY think they are good drivers but it is a me..me...me...me attitude

It’s not 30 minutes. The train takes 10 minutes from Central to Domestic.

a good way to burn money… 4 peeps onboard…

23 years post 9/11 and we still have no doors on cockpits of small aircraft? Damn

Your narrative seemed a bit confused. You talked about Lake Macquarie airport which is the old Aero Pelican south of Newcastle - it used to run the Pelican flights to Newcastle. Where you actually landed was Newcastle Airport - at Williamstown to the north of Newcastle - is also the RAAF Williamstown air base.

Now 552 6 july 2024 posted 14 minutes ago

？cockpit door opened?

Only 4 passengers, hmmm hardly economically viable. Can’t see them lasting too much longer unfortunately.

I would rather take the train due to less carbon emissions

Frankly, this flight is bad for the environment and should not exist. The EU has banned flights under a certain time, and for good reason. Absolute waste of resources and complete disregard for the environment given the time savings are essentially zero. That said, I enjoyed the video Josh.

My first commercial flight was with Aeropelican, as it was called then, from the old airport at Belmont in 1990. When I got to Sydney I asked how to get to the international terminal. This was before the train. I thought there would be a shuttle bus. There wasn’t. The only way around was by taxi. But it was fun adventure anyway.