Cairns Airport

Cairns Airport (IATA: CNS, ICAO: YBCS) is an international airport in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Formerly operated by the Cairns Port Authority, the airport was sold by the Queensland Government in December 2008 to a private consortium. It is the seventh busiest airport in Australia. The airport is located 2.3 nautical miles (4.3 km; 2.6 mi) north northwest of Cairns or 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the Cairns central business district, in the suburb of Aeroglen. The airport lies between Mount Whitfield to the west and Trinity Bay to the east. The airport has direct flights to 10 international and 27 domestic destinations and many general aviation flights including a number of helicopter operators. Flights are operated to all major Australian cities and tourist destinations, regional communities in Far North Queensland, and a number of international destinations in the Asia-Pacific region with connections to the rest of the world. The airport formed the main base for Australian Airlines prior to its ceasing of operations in June 2006 (the airport remains a major port for parent company Qantas). It is also a base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the search and rescue helicopters of the Queensland Government. Cairns Airport served over 4.8 million passengers in the financial year of 2024. History During World War II, the Australian Government bought the airport for use by the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1943, the main runway was hard surfaced and lengthened to handle military aircraft. It was also used by the United States Army Air Forces as a transport base, with the 33d Troop Carrier Squadron (374th Troop Carrier Group) operating from the base during 1942. In 1949, the main runway was lengthened to 1,730 m (5,680 ft) to accommodate larger aircraft. During the mid-1960s, the airport was upgraded and the runway further lengthened to 2,020 m (6,630 ft) and strengthened so jets could land. During the 1970s, Australia's two domestic airlines Trans Australia Airlines and Ansett provided regular scheduled services to most Australian capital cities and also Papua New Guinea, while in 1975 Air Niugini became the first international airline to commence flights out of Cairns, to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. In 1982, redevelopment of the airport commenced. This involved further lengthening of the runway to 2,600 m (8,500 ft) (making it the longest runway in Queensland) and construction of a new terminal building. The first stage of the redevelopment was finished in 1984 and a dual International and Domestic Terminal was opened. At the end of the decade the second stage of redevelopment was completed. This included a new separate International Terminal, associated aprons and taxiways, costing an estimated $80 million. The main runway was again extended, to 3,196 m (10,486 ft). The third stage of redevelopment was completed in 1997, during which a three-storey Airport Administration Centre was constructed providing 4,000 m2 (43,000 sq ft) of office space. A$200 million redevelopment of the Domestic Terminal started in August 2007 and was completed in 2010. Check-in facilities were expanded into a common-user facility for all airlines, and the building enlarged. Five new jet bridges replaced the existing three old bridges. In January 2010, Auckland International Airport Limited announced that it had purchased 24.6 per cent of North Queensland Airports (NQA), operator of the airports at Cairns and Mackay, for about $132 million. A further upgrade of the Domestic Terminal commenced in 2019 and was completed in August 2020, at a total cost of $55 million. The main purpose of the upgrade was to prepare the terminal to handle the domestic portion of the airport's projected 6 million passengers annually from 2027. The floor area of the departure hall was increased to 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft), and an additional 2,000 m2 (22,000 sq ft) of dining and retail facilities were added. The upgrade also included expanded seating areas, a new interactive children's play screen, an upgraded Parenting Room, and a new Quiet Room. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, chief aviation officer Luis Perez told The Cairns Post the airport was in talks with approximately 22 airlines to connect Cairns to destinations, such as North America, The Republic of Korea, Taipei, Malaysia, the Middle East, India, Vietnam and the Philippines. Virgin Australia launched daily direct service to Tokyo-Haneda on 28 June 2023 with the newly arrived Boeing 737 Max 8 fleet. However, due to low demand, the route was removed on 24 February 2025. In early 2023, it was announced that the International Terminal (Terminal 1) would undergo its first major upgrade in April 2023 to a value of AUD$55 million. The announced upgrades would be rolled out in stages to 'minimise passenger disruptions', the first of which would feature the installation of four new glass air-bridges and the re-cladding of the exterior of the building. In December 2023, the airport was affected by Tropical Cyclone Jasper forcing it to close for several days. In March 2024, it was announced that both Cairns and Mackay Airports would run on 100% renewable energy sources from 2025. Facilities Terminals The airport has two passenger terminals on the eastern side of the airport on reclaimed mangrove swamp. They are approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the Cairns Central Shopping Centre and situated on Airport Avenue off Sheridan Street (Captain Cook Highway). The terminals are in separate buildings 200 m (660 ft) from one another. The Domestic Terminal is number 2, and has five jet bridges and 17 gates. The International Terminal is number 1, and has six jet bridges and ten gates in total. A large and dedicated air-freight terminal termed the: 'Cairns Regional Trade Distribution Centre' was announced by the Queensland State Government Ministers in 2022. This facility will feature a 2400 square meter freight logistics hub and aim to improve the AU$40.4 million in food and agricultural exports through the airport. This is situated partially atop the former general aviation runway 12/30. Runways The airport has a single runway (15/33) which is 3,156 m (10,354 ft) long. The flight path to the north of the main runway is located directly overhead Cairns' northern beach suburbs. The flight path to the south is located directly over central Cairns. A smaller (925 m (3,035 ft)) runway 12/30 that was used for general aviation lies to the east; its final approach crossed the main runway. As of April 2011 this runway was closed and had been converted to a helipad area before the freight terminal's construction. Airlines and destinations Passenger Cargo Other tenants There are operators of emergency medical retrieval and rescue services based at the airport, including Emergency Management Queensland and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Statistics Domestic International Cargo Ground transport Taxi Ranks are located near both the International and Domestic Terminals. Cairns Taxis taxi ranks are located immediately outside the International and Domestic Terminals. Bus Airport shuttle bus services to hotels, city centre, Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation are available. Parking Short-term and long-term parking, including a covered car park and parking for people with a disability are located within the public carparks adjacent to both the Domestic and International Terminals. Proposed Transport Links Cairns Metro/Airport Link A link from the Airport to the City has been proposed as a bus line or a metro line Accidents and incidents On 12 August 2024, a 23 year old employee of Nautilus Aviation gained access to a Robinson R44 helicopter at around 1:30 AM and departed from Cairns Airport on an unauthorised flight. The man, who held a New Zealand pilot's licence, made a number of low altitude passes over the Cairns Esplanade before crashing into the roof of the Doubletree by Hilton Cairns. 400 hotel guests were evacuated following with accident, with two treated for smoke inhalation. Investigators found the pilot, who was killed in the accident, was "affected by a significant amount of alcohol" at the time of the flight. See also United States Army Air Forces in Australia (World War II) Transportation in Australia List of airports in Queensland References This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency External links Media related to Cairns Airport at Wikimedia Commons Official website