Cairns International Airport
Encyclopedia
Cairns Airport 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 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 serves international, domestic and general aviation
flights including a number of helicopter
operators. Flights are operated to 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 of Australia
and the search and rescue
helicopters of the State Emergency Service
.
off a sand ridge near the present airport. He could only land and take off between high tides. During one emergency, Tom was forced to take off from beer barrels
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 legthened 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 1730 metres to accommodate larger aircraft. During the mid-1960s the airport was upgraded and the runway further lengthened to 2020 metres 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 2600 metres (making it the longest runway in Queensland) and construction of a new terminal building. The first stage of the redovelopment 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 3196 metres. In 1997 the third stage of redevelopment was completed, during which a three storey Airport Administration Centre was constructed providing 4000 square metres 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 plans to purchase almost 25 per cent of North Queensland Airports (NQA), operator of the airports at Cairns and Mackay, for about $167 million.
on the eastern side of the airport on reclaimed mangrove
swamp
They are approximately 6 kilometres north from Cairns Central Shopping Centre and situated on Airport Avenue off Sheridan Street (Captain Cook Highway
). The terminals are in two separate buildings 200 metres (656.2 ft) from one another. The Domestic terminal has five jet bridges, while the International Terminal currently has six jet bridges.
is 3196 m (10,485.6 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 (3,034.8 ft) runway for general aviation lies to the east; its final approach crosses the main runway. As of April 2011 this runway is closed and not expected to reopen.
Notes: These flights may make an intermediate stop en route to their listed final destination; however the airlines have no traffic rights to carry passengers solely between Cairns and Brisbane.
Ranks are located near both the International and Domestic Terminals. Black & White 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 and parking for people with a disability are located within the public carparks adjacent to both the Domestic and International Terminals. The public carparks are fully automated and operate 24 hours per day. They are run by Wilson Parking.
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
in Cairns, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia. Formerly operated by the Cairns Port Authority
Cairns Port Authority
Cairns Port Authority is a Queensland Government statutory Corporation responsible for the operation of the Cairns Seaport. The Authority is also responsible for the Cairns Marlin Marina and the Cityport project. The Seaport and Cityport comprise the authority’s business units.- Cairns Seaport...
, 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 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 serves international, domestic and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
flights including a number of helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
operators. Flights are operated to major Australian cities and tourist destinations, regional communities in Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
, 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
Australian Airlines
Australian Airlines was a full-service airline based in Australia, servicing Australian and Asian destinations between 2002 and 2006. It was an all-economy, full-service international leisure carrier and was a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, although run independently of the mainline carrier...
prior to its ceasing of operations in June 2006 (the airport remains a major port for parent company Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
). It is also a base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
and the search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
helicopters of the State Emergency Service
State Emergency Service
A State Emergency Service is an Australian volunteer organisation that provides emergency help during and after declared disasters. The SES is also the primary or secondary agency for emergencies, such as storm damage,flood damage, building damage, traffic hazards and road crash rescue...
.
History
Cairns Airport goes back to 1928 when Tom McDonald started flying his de Havilland Gipsy MothDe Havilland DH.60 Moth
The de Havilland DH 60 Moth was a 1920s British two-seat touring and training aircraft that was developed into a series of aircraft by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.-Development:The DH 60 was developed from the larger DH 51 biplane...
off a sand ridge near the present airport. He could only land and take off between high tides. During one emergency, Tom was forced to take off from beer barrels
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Australian Government bought the airport for use by the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. In 1943 the main runway was hard surfaced and legthened to handle military aircraft. It was also used by the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
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 1730 metres to accommodate larger aircraft. During the mid-1960s the airport was upgraded and the runway further lengthened to 2020 metres and strengthened so jets could land.
During the 1970s Australia's two domestic airlines Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
and Ansett
Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
provided regular scheduled services to most Australian capital cities and also Papua New Guinea, while in 1975 Air Niugini
Air Niugini
Air Niugini Limited is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, based in Air Niugini House on the property of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby. It operates a domestic network from Port Moresby and Lae, as well as international services in Asia, Oceania, and Australia. Its main base is...
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 2600 metres (making it the longest runway in Queensland) and construction of a new terminal building. The first stage of the redovelopment 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 3196 metres. In 1997 the third stage of redevelopment was completed, during which a three storey Airport Administration Centre was constructed providing 4000 square metres 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 plans to purchase almost 25 per cent of North Queensland Airports (NQA), operator of the airports at Cairns and Mackay, for about $167 million.
Terminals
The airport has two passenger terminalsAirport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
on the eastern side of the airport on reclaimed mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
They are approximately 6 kilometres north from Cairns Central Shopping Centre and situated on Airport Avenue off Sheridan Street (Captain Cook Highway
Captain Cook Highway
Captain Cook Highway is a short Queensland highway that starts in Cairns and ends in Mossman, where it joins Mossman-Daintree Road, which continues to Daintree.Captain Cook Highway is used by many tourists to travel to Port Douglas north of Cairns...
). The terminals are in two separate buildings 200 metres (656.2 ft) from one another. The Domestic terminal has five jet bridges, while the International Terminal currently has six jet bridges.
Runways
The airport’s main north-south runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
is 3196 m (10,485.6 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 (3,034.8 ft) runway for general aviation lies to the east; its final approach crosses the main runway. As of April 2011 this runway is closed and not expected to reopen.
Airlines and destinations
Notes: These flights may make an intermediate stop en route to their listed final destination; however the airlines have no traffic rights to carry passengers solely between Cairns and Brisbane.
Cargo
Emergency service
- Royal Flying Doctor Service (Emergency Medical Retrieval and outback medical clinics)
Operations
| Cairns Airport Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Year | Total Passengers |
| 2010 | 3,550,000 |
| 2009 | 3,653,544 |
| 2008 | 3,777,154 |
| 2006 | 3,731,000 |
| 2004 | 3,222,000 |
| 2000 | 2,891,000 |
| 1995 | 2,419,000 |
| 1990 | 1,288,000 |
| 1985 | 578,000 |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brisbane AirportBrisbane Airport Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area... |
1,153,800 | 0.1 |
| 2 |  Sydney AirportSydney Airport Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada... |
876,800 | 5.3 |
| 3 |  Melbourne AirportMelbourne Airport Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the... |
451,100 | 15.7 |
| 4 | Townsville Airport |
178,500 | 8.9 |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers handled | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Narita International AirportNarita International Airport is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama.... |
158,096 | 11.0 |
| 2 |  Jacksons International AirportJacksons International Airport Jacksons International Airport , also known as Port Moresby Airport, is located 5 miles outside Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea... |
86,799 | 4.1 |
| 3 |  Hong Kong International AirportHong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial... |
61,747 | 4.9 |
| 4 |  Auckland Airport |
59,907 | 1.8 |
| 5 | Kansai International Airport Kansai International Airport is an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, southwest of Ōsaka Station, located within three municipalities, including Izumisano , Sennan , and Tajiri , in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The airport is off the Honshu shore. The airport serves as an... |
54,549 | |
| 6 |  Singapore Changi AirportSingapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site.... |
40,819 | 9.5 |
| 7 |  Antonio B. Won Pat International AirportAntonio B. Won Pat International Airport Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport , also known as Guam International Airport, is an airport located in Tamuning and Barrigada, three miles east of the capital city of Hagåtña in the U.S. territory of Guam. It is named for Antonio Borja Won Pat, the first delegate from Guam to the United... |
33,955 | 35.0 |
| Rank | Airport | Freight handled | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial... |
2,984.0 | 13.1 |
| 2 | Singapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport Singapore Changi Airport , Changi International Airport, or simply Changi Airport, is the main airport in Singapore. A major aviation hub in Southeast Asia, it is about north-east from the commercial centre in Changi, on a site.... |
811.4 | 0.2 |
Ground transport
TaxiRanks are located near both the International and Domestic Terminals. Black & White 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
Port Douglas, Queensland
Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately north of Cairns. Its permanent population was 948 residents in 2006. The town's population can often double, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season May–September. The town is named in honour of...
and Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation
Cape Tribulation is a headland and locality in northern Queensland, Australia north of Cairns. It is located within the Daintree National Park and the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. At the 2006 census, Cape Tribulation had a population of 101....
are available.
Parking
Short-term and long-term parking and parking for people with a disability are located within the public carparks adjacent to both the Domestic and International Terminals. The public carparks are fully automated and operate 24 hours per day. They are run by Wilson Parking.
See also
- United States Army Air Forces in AustraliaUnited States Army Air Forces in AustraliaDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established a series of airfields in Australia for the collective defense of the country, as well as for conducting offensive operations against the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy...
(World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) - Transportation in Australia