A month out from regional airline JetGo’s October 30 launch in Wollongong, final preparations for take-off are well under way – including work on an almost-complete passenger terminal and required regulatory approvals.

In the meantime, the airline has taken on board community feedback about flight schedules – with changes to its Melbourne itinerary to allow for longer stays in the Victorian capital. 

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As part of the schedule change, planes will now depart Wollongong earlier and return later from Melbourne’s Essendon Airport.

[Read more: How the cost of JetGo flights stacks up with Sydney airfares]

Flights leaving Wollongong on Monday, Wednesday and Friday will depart the Illawarra Regional Airport at 7am (almost two hours earlier than the previous timetable) and 3.40pm, arriving in Melbourne at 8.20am and 5pm respectively. 

Only a 3.40pm Wollongong-Melbourne flight is available on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Return flights from Melbourne will leave Essendon at 9am and 5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Only the 5.30pm Wollongong-bound flight operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. 

[Read more: A sneak peek inside JetGo’s first Illawarra touchdown]

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from the community in regards to the original schedule we published, requesting they wanted the ability to have a longer day in Melbourne,” JetGo’s managing director Paul Bredereck told the Mercury.

The airline will also fly to Brisbane seven days a week, departing Wollongong at 11am daily.

The return Brisbane-Wollongong service leaves at 1.35pm each day.

Mr Bredereck said ticket sales for both routes had exceeded expectations. 

“Due to the response, we’re actually now looking at when we expand and not if we’ll expand,” he said.

Extra flights could be added on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

JetGo was unveiled as the operator of the region’s new passenger airline services in early July. 

Since then, Shellharbour City Council has worked to install a new temporary passenger terminal at the airport and upgrade existing infrastructure.  

The terminal fit-out – which included furniture and security equipment – has been completed, with outdoor work ongoing.

Sydney-based MSS Security has been contracted by the council to manage security screening. 

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will inspect the airport prior to flights beginning, with JetGo expected to submit the last of its documentation with the regulatory body on Friday.

Mr Bredereck said there was “a lot of work still to be done”, but the airline was confident it would meet its October 30 launch date.

Ticket prices vary depending on the type of fare purchased. Visit jetgo.com for ticket information and costs.

WOLLONGONG – MELBOURNE (ESSENDON AIRPORT)

MELBOURNE – WOLLONGONG

WOLLONGONG – BRISBANE

BRISBANE – WOLLONGONG