East-West Airlines operated commercial passenger flights from Port Macquarie Aerodrome which opened in 1955. The first flight from Port Macquarie to Sydney was on 28 November of that year. The Sydney route was offered tri-weekly to service business travellers and tourists. The airline also offered a Saturday service between Gunnedah, Tamworth and Port Macquarie, returning Monday mornings. In 1955 the airfare for an adult between Port Macquarie and Sydney was £4/7/6. By the early 1960s there was a daily flight to and from Sydney.