Newcastle Airport has reopened after a large bushfire burning nearby forced its closure.
More than 130 NSW firefighters worked through Monday to bring the Port Stephens bushfire, which began on Saturday and has burnt more than 2300 hectares, under control.
Flights resumed on Monday morning but after several hours the airport had to put them on hold and eventually closed again due to water bombing activity and poor visibility from smoke.
The airport reopened at 7.30pm on Monday after visibility conditions improved.
The bushfire at Tomago, Williamtown, Raymond Terrace and Campvale is at an advice level, the NSW Rural Fire Service said on Monday afternoon.
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Crews are now working to build and strengthen containment lines ahead of hot weather and increased fire danger later in the week, the RFS said.
The large air tanker Nancy Bird assisted crews fighting the fire on Sunday before the RFS downgraded the warning from emergency to watch and act.
The RFS warned residents on Monday that backburning will continue to be carried out as a preventive measure which will increase fire activity in the region.
