Cairns Airport (CNS) Information
(Cairns, Far North Queensland - QLD, Australia)
The seventh-busiest air hub on the island continent of Australia, Cairns Airport is located a short drive from the city's Central Business District, in the Aeroglen suburb. International flights to Asia-Pacific destinations with links to the rest of the world form a strong aviation service sector here, offering regional and domestic flights to tourist hubs and principal Australian cities. The complex is a major operations centre for national flag carrier Qantas, while also supporting helicopter flights and general aviation. Importantly, Cairns Airport is a base for Australia's Royal Flying Doctor service.
Founded in the late 1920s by a local flyer who was known for having taken off in his Gypsy Moth over a ramp of beer barrels, this site was important during WWII as a transport base, and became a commercial facility in the 1960s. In 2010, a major redevelopment of the Domestic Terminal was completed, separating it from the International Terminal. Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Continental and JetStar provide international routes to Hong Kong, Auckland, Osaka, Tokyo and Singapore, with Qantas and a plethora of low-cost domestic airlines hosting flights to a slew of smaller and remote outback Australian towns, as well as major cities.
The two terminals lie on the eastern side of the complex, where they are modern, spacious and clean, offering all of the usual passenger amenities to the four million+ travellers who pass through Cairns Airport every year. Of note, the busiest international route by far is to Tokyo's Narita International Airport.
Cairns Airport (CNS)
Address: Airport Avenue / Captain Cook Highway, Cairns, Queensland (QLD), 4870, Australia, AU
Tel: +61 07 4080 6703
Cairns Airport lies north of the city's downtown business district by some 7 km / 4 miles, being found just across from the Mount Whitfield Conservation Park and the Flecker Botanic Gardens. The city serves as a convenient location for both business travellers and holiday makers looking to explore this part of Queensland. Roads in the region are well-maintained and fast.
Facilities:
- ATMs are located in the International Arrivals hall and the Domestic Departures lounge
- Currency exchange booths are found in the Domestic and International Departures lounges and the International Baggage Reclaim area
- Baby care facilities are located in both Arrivals and Departures halls
- Assistance and facilities for disabled passengers can be arranged on request
- The Domestic Terminal has a choice of coffee bars, pubs and fast-food outlets, including La Porchetta, Hungry Jacks, the Coffee Club and Skybury Coffee
- The International Terminal offers the landside Gateway Bar & Bistro, while the airside choices include the Aussie Burger Bar and the Sails Licensed Bar & Cafe
- Car rentals are found here through Redspot, Thrifty, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz
- Duty free and duty paid stores are offered landside and airside in the International Terminal, including Discover for gifts and souvenirs, and the Sunglass Hut
- The Domestic Terminal's shops include Beach Culture, Hub Convenience for last-minute travel goods and Bijoux Terner for fashions
- A business lounge is provided in the International Terminal, with local art on display
- Internet access is found in the Arrivals and Departure areas of the International Terminal
- Open-air long-term and short-stay car parks are located adjacent to the terminals
Cars
The drive from the complex to the city centre is well-signposted and fast, beginning at Airport Avenue, from where a left turn takes drivers onto Highway 1 (Captain Cook Highway / Sheridan Street). This route runs parallel with the shoreline for roughly 8 km / 5 miles and leads directly to the city centre, passing by various hotels along the way, such as the Quality Hotel, Reef Palms, the Bohemia Resort and the Queens Court. The drive takes around 15 minutes.
Buses
Tel: +61 07 4087 2900
Although there are no public bus services, Airporter shuttle buses run regularly from outside the terminals to accommodation in the city. A large number of Cairns hotels also provide shuttle bus services for their guests, while Sun Palm Transport coaches run from the facility to the city, its northern beach areas, Cape Tribulation, Port Douglas and other destinations.
Taxis and Limos
Black and White Taxi ranks are found outside both Cairns Airport's International and Domestic terminals. Popular cab destinations include Clifton Beach, Edmonton, Ellis Beach, Holloways Beach, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove, Trinity Beach and Yorkeys Knob, as well as Port Douglas (a fixed fare journey).
Private transportation is also provided by a number of limo hire companies and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance of arrival.
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