Latest – 12.35pm:
NEWCASTLE Airport is still trying to fix sections of roofing which came down in heavy rain on Sunday.
The airport’s executive manager, Matthew Findlay, said there was still no update on when the check-in area would be reopened.
However, he said there were contractors currently on-site who were cleaning up and making repairs.
The airport has a digital check-in available for Jetstar passengers, while other airliners are running a manual check-in.
There are no further flight cancellations at this stage.
FlyPelican has cancelled its arrival from Canberra, but it is unrelated to the roof collapse incident.
Further updates on flight schedules are available here.
Earlier:
PASSENGERS travelling from Newcastle Airport on Monday should allow extra time for manual check-in after Sunday's partial roof collapse.
The airport was forced to close its check-in hall on Sunday after a deluge caused part of the check-in hall’s roof to collapse.
Power and utilities were restored shortly before 8pm.
Virgin Australia is running extra flights on Monday to accommodate services cancelled on the weekend.
“Where possible, departing passengers are urged to check-in for their flight before arriving at the airport via their airline's website or app,” the airport said in a statement.
Two services due to arrive in Newcastle had been cancelled on Monday, a Regional Express service from Taree due at 7.30am and a Jetstar flight from Melbourne.
A Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane arrived at 7.20am.
Rex and Jetstar’s first scheduled departures on Monday, to Sydney and Melbourne respectively, were also cancelled.
Newcastle Airport lists subsequent services as running on time.
Sunday, 7pm:
NEWCASTLE Airport has announced it will reopen on Monday morning after heavy rainfall caused a roof collapse.
In a statement, the airport said arrivals and departures would both run through the unaffected arrivals lounge.
Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport earlier than normal as they are processed through a manual check-in.
Where possible, departing passengers are urged to check-in online via their airliner’s website.
The check-in terminal will undergo repairs.
Earlier:
NEWCASTLE Airport has been closed and flights cancelled after a sudden deluge of water caused a partial collapse of the roof on Sunday afternoon.
About 1pm, shortly before the Bureau of Meteorology issued a heavy rainfall warning for the Newcastle area, gutters in part of the Williamtown airport terminal were overwhelmed with water, causing a section of the roof to cave in.
Most flights, including from domestic carriers Jetstar, Virgin and Regional Express were cancelled. However, regional carrier Pelican Airlines remained operational.
After the collapse, the airport terminal was bustling with passengers who were turned away and had to find their way home.
Players from the Newcastle Knights were among those who found their flights to Newcastle cancelled.
Margaret Marlborough, who was ready to board a Jetstar flight, said no one was injured and passengers were quickly moved to safety.
"The rain just came down really hard outside and then the roof went crash," Ms Marlborough said.
"It took them about 40 minutes to tell us whether we would be able to fly or not."
Matthew Findlay, the executive manager of Newcastle Airport, said the event was an isolated incident affecting only the check-in terminal.
"I'm describing it as a unique weather event," Mr Findlay said.
"Obviously, with the quantities of water involved the guttering in the roof could not handle it. Some of the tiles have come down and we've turned the electricity off."
Mr Findlay said it was unclear when the airport would fully reopen.
Firefighters were assessing the strength of the roof in the mid-afternoon, and a decision on reopening the area was expected to be made in the early evening.
Like many passengers, Ms Marlborough does not know when her flight will resume.
Passengers have told the Herald Jetstar has not refunded cancelled tickets.
Newcastle Airport said affected passengers should liaise with their airline and keep monitoring the airport website.
