Future Cairns: Airport sets 10 million passenger target by 2040
Two new offshore destinations will be available before the end of the year in a slow recovery from decimating impacts of Covid-19, as the Cairns Airport looks to double passenger numbers by 2040.
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Two new offshore destinations will be available from Cairns before the end of the year in a slow recovery from a Covid-19 passenger cliff, as the Cairns Airport looks to double passenger numbers by 2040.
Passenger numbers are forecast to reach about 10 million passengers a year as the Cairns population creeps toward an estimated 241,000 by 2050.
The ambitious target is referenced against disastrous 2021 financial year results of 2.1m passengers when the pandemic shrunk international throughput to 5288 international passengers.
A gradual recovery has meant 4.3m passengers transited through the airport in 2023, which was a marginal improvement on historic data from 2005 when 4.1m people arrived and departed Cairns.
Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said irons were already in the fire to achieve the target, which included the start of the second stage of a $55m international terminal refurbishment project.
He said the operation of the Singapore Airlines wide-bodied A350 since March was a significant development in increasing passenger numbers.
“Further, China Eastern Airlines based in Shanghai have confirmed they will return with regular seasonal flights in late this year and into early 2025,” he said.
“There is a world of opportunity on our doorstep, and we’re ensuring we have a blueprint in place to develop our business in a way that is responsible, and beneficial to our region and everyone who calls the Far North home.”
While wide-bodied aircraft increased capacity, an emerging trend of medium-range narrow body aircraft means further destinations could be available from Cairns using fuel-efficient aircraft such as the 737 Max 8, which is currently servicing the Cairns-Tokyo route.
“The move to lighter medium-range aircraft will also see an increase in airlines using Cairns as the northern gateway to Australia,” Advance Cairns chief executive Jacinta Reddan said.
“There is a material opportunity to firmly establish the city as the nation’s northern international hub for passengers and freight.”
Seven destinations across Asia-Pacific are currently serviced by 76 flights departing Cairns.
But while scheduled flights to Vanuatu are unlikely at this stage, a high-level delegation last year visited Hong Kong to lobby for the return of Cathay Pacific flights, following the exit of the carrier in 2019, and was considered successful.
A proposal for a weekly freighter service slated for late 2023 and a passenger service in late 2024 to return a $40m tourist spend to the region had not come to fruition, but Mr Barker said a key objective of restoring working relationships with senior Cathay Pacific management had been achieved.
“The team at Cathay Pacific were very clear at the time that flights would not recommence in 2023 … both groups are working together and we are quietly confident about our prospects,” he said.
On the wish list to fuel aviation connectivity and economic growth is a $45m common user hangar, a $10m student accommodation hub and an $8m Cessna Caravan flight simulator.
The projects are centrepieces of an Advance Cairns’ aviation investment push.
The $55m terminal refresh is being funded wholly by the airport, along with an additional $35m earthworks spend at the Eastern Aviation Precinct ahead of construction of the common user hangar, for the use of airport-based business and other developments.
Mr Barker said the future of the airport was bright.
“In addition to serving a wide network of international, domestic and regional destinations, the Cairns Airport precinct will have a vibrant commercial hub serving a range of businesses and operators, including aircraft maintenance and repairs, emergency services, a freight and logistics hub, hotel accommodation and education facilities,” Mr Barker said.
Transformation of the check-in and arrivals halls including removal of the old blue carpet is complete, while bathrooms have been remodelled, and a new escalator and elevator has been installed.
Travellers now also have a panoramic view of the mountains using newly installed new glass air bridges.
Work is now underway on new baggage reclaim belts and an expanded area to increase capacity for travellers.
“Our international terminal continues to be upgraded as part of a wide-ranging $55m refurbishment project,” Mr Barker said.
“(And) we are looking forward to announcing new international destinations in June, for services that will start later this year and additional new services will also be announced later in 2024.
“We are aiming to be Queensland’s key international airport after Brisbane.”
Unique position as gateway to state and beyond
Our region has long been recognised as the gateway to some of the world’s most exceptional natural assets, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.
That hasn’t changed.
Tourists have returned after the tough Covid period and continue to embrace our incredible attractions as they always have.
Japanese visitation is exceeding pre-pandemic levels, bringing to fruition our organisation’s strategy to pursue and increase Japan services, such as the direct Virgin Australia flights to Tokyo Haneda.
Singapore Airlines injected thousands of additional seats into the region with the arrival of their widebody Airbus A350-900 in March, along with an additional 2500 tonnes of cargo capacity per year, providing significant opportunities for local exporters.
More announcements are on the way as we continue to work closely with airline partners across the globe.
It is exciting now that we are in a position to harness our unique location for further major opportunities.
Cairns’ location as the northern gateway to Queensland give us a highly competitive advantage.
Airlines continue to purchase and adopt long-range narrow body aircraft.
These aircraft can fly to Cairns directly from key markets in Asia, meaning airlines based in Australia can reach a raft of Asian countries that would previously have required a much longer and more protracted journey.
Critically, these aircraft do not have the range to fly directly from Asia to other Australian airports further south.
An example of this is the aforementioned Virgin Australia service, the only direct Virgin Australia flight to Japan, which operates using a Boeing 737 MAX-8.
Markets such as Vietnam, India and South Korea, as well as regional ports in Japan are expected to open up to Cairns as this new generation of fuel-efficient planes arrive.
More than 30 per cent of the world’s population live within an 8-hour narrow body flight from Cairns.
Destinations will be accessible with planes that use half the fuel of existing planes, reducing emissions by 50 per cent.
New, key direct routes present significant potential for further growth through to the Pacific. More non-stop or one-stop services to Cairns, and all the wonders of Tropical North Queensland, also open the door for international visitation to the Pacific and concurrently streamline our northern neighbours’ connection to other key Australian destinations.
Our region can offer seamless connectivity and new economic opportunities connected to increased export and import capabilities.
Tropical North Queensland is a great place to stay and play, and these key growth sectors offer our Pacific neighbours even more reason to do so.
Richard Barker is the Cairns Airport CEO
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Originally published as Future Cairns: Airport sets 10 million passenger target by 2040
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