# Cairns International Airport (CNS / YBCS)

**Cairns International Airport** (IATA: CNS, ICAO: YBCS) is a large airport in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It opened in 1936. It has one runway, 3,197 m (10,489 ft) long, asphalt. In 2022 it handled 3.8 million passengers.

Web page: https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybcs

## At a glance

- IATA / ICAO: CNS / YBCS
- Type: Large airport
- Serves: Cairns, Queensland, Australia
- Opened: 1936
- Elevation: 3 m / 10 ft
- Coordinates: -16.8789, 145.7495
- Runways: 1
- Longest runway: 3,197 m / 10,489 ft
- Passengers: 3,807,889 (2022)
- Time zone: UTC+10 · Australia/Brisbane
- Website: http://www.cairnsairport.com.au
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairns_Airport (26 languages)
- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q474632
- Weather station: YBCS · WMO 94287
- Ident: YBCS

## Timeline

- 1936: Cairns International Airport opens.

## Runways

| Ident | Length | Width | Surface | True headings | Lighted |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 15/33 | 3,197 m / 10,489 ft | 45 m / 148 ft | Asphalt | 149° / 329° | yes |

## Passengers per year

| Year | Passengers | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2011 | 3,865,169 | Wikidata |
| 2012 | 4,080,554 | Wikidata |
| 2013 | 4,246,422 | Wikidata |
| 2014 | 4,318,309 | Wikidata |
| 2015 | 4,521,042 | Wikidata |
| 2016 | 4,850,514 | Wikidata |
| 2017 | 4,940,484 | Wikidata |
| 2018 | 4,945,798 | Wikidata |
| 2019 | 4,778,181 | Wikidata |
| 2020 | 1,706,525 | Wikidata |
| 2021 | 2,314,707 | Wikidata |
| 2022 | 3,807,889 | Wikidata |

## Routes

36 destinations in 7 countries. From the airport's Wikipedia article.

### Year-round (34)

- [TSV](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybtl.md) Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville · Australia · 285 km / 177 mi · QantasLink, Rex Airlines
- [KWM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ykow.md) Kowanyama Airport · Australia · 454 km / 282 mi · SmartLynx Australia
- [EDR](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ypmp.md) Pormpuraaw Airport · Australia · 495 km / 308 mi · SmartLynx Australia
- [PPP](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybpn.md) Proserpine Whitsunday Coast Airport · Australia · 499 km / 310 mi · SmartLynx Australia
- [NTN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yntn.md) Normanton Airport · Australia · 505 km / 314 mi · Rex Airlines
- [IRG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ylhr.md) Lockhart River Airport · Australia · 525 km / 326 mi · SmartLynx Australia
- [AUU](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yaur.md) Aurukun Airport · Australia · 584 km / 363 mi · SmartLynx Australia
- [MKY](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybmk.md) Mackay Airport · Australia · 598 km / 372 mi · QantasLink
- [WEI](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybwp.md) Weipa Airport · Australia · 622 km / 386 mi · QantasLink
- [MOV](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ymrb.md) Moranbah Airport · Australia · 625 km / 388 mi · SmartLynx Australia
- [BUC](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybkt.md) Burketown Airport · Australia · 667 km / 414 mi · Rex Airlines
- [ONG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ymti.md) Mornington Island Airport · Australia · 700 km / 435 mi · Rex Airlines
- [DMD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ydmg.md) Doomadgee Airport · Australia · 744 km / 462 mi · Rex Airlines
- [ABM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ynpe.md) Northern Peninsula Airport · Australia · 749 km / 465 mi · SmartLynx Australia
- [ISA](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybma.md) Mount Isa Airport · Australia · 782 km / 486 mi · Rex Airlines
- [HID](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yhid.md) Horn Island Airport · Australia · 793 km / 493 mi · QantasLink
- [POM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/aypy.md) Port Moresby Jacksons International Airport · Papua New Guinea · 842 km / 523 mi · Air Niugini
- [GOV](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ypgv.md) Gove Airport · Australia · 1,089 km / 677 mi · Airnorth
- [MCY](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybsu.md) Sunshine Coast Airport · Australia · 1,319 km / 820 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [BNE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybbn.md) Brisbane International Airport · Australia · 1,392 km / 865 mi · QantasLink, Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways
- [ASP](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybas.md) Alice Springs Airport · Australia · 1,454 km / 903 mi · Airnorth
- [OOL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybcg.md) Gold Coast Airport · Australia · 1,486 km / 923 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [DRW](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ypdn.md) Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin · Australia · 1,674 km / 1,040 mi · QantasLink, Airnorth
- [AYQ](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yaye.md) Ayers Rock Connellan Airport · Australia · 1,788 km / 1,111 mi · QantasLink
- [SYD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yssy.md) Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport · Australia · 1,974 km / 1,227 mi · Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways
- [ADL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ypad.md) Adelaide International Airport · Australia · 2,133 km / 1,325 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [MEL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ymml.md) Melbourne Airport · Australia · 2,314 km / 1,438 mi · Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways
- [NAN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nffn.md) Nadi International Airport · Fiji · 3,361 km / 2,088 mi · Fiji Airways
- [DPS](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wadd.md) Denpasar I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport · Indonesia · 3,432 km / 2,133 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [PER](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ypph.md) Perth International Airport · Australia · 3,432 km / 2,133 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [CHC](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzch.md) Christchurch International Airport · New Zealand · 3,887 km / 2,415 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [SIN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/wsss.md) Singapore Changi Airport · Singapore · 5,006 km / 3,111 mi · Singapore Airlines
- [KIX](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rjbb.md) Kansai International Airport · Japan · 5,812 km / 3,611 mi · Jetstar Airways
- [NRT](https://dromopedia.com/airports/rjaa.md) Narita International Airport · Japan · 5,881 km / 3,654 mi · Jetstar Airways

### Seasonal (1)

- [AKL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/nzaa.md) Auckland International Airport · New Zealand · 3,620 km / 2,249 mi · Air New Zealand

### Cargo (5)

- [TSV](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybtl.md) Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville · Australia · 285 km / 177 mi · Qantas Freight
- [BNE](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybbn.md) Brisbane International Airport · Australia · 1,392 km / 865 mi · Qantas Freight
- [WSI](https://dromopedia.com/airports/au-0539.md) Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport · Australia · 1,955 km / 1,215 mi · Qantas Freight
- [SYD](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yssy.md) Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport · Australia · 1,974 km / 1,227 mi · Qantas Freight
- [MEL](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ymml.md) Melbourne Airport · Australia · 2,314 km / 1,438 mi · Qantas Freight

## Airlines

The figure is how many destinations each airline flies from CNS, as the routes above have them. Hubs from Wikidata.

### Hub airlines (5)

- JQ [Jetstar Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/jetstar-airways) · 11
- Q6 [SmartLynx Australia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/smartlynx-australia) · 7
- ZL [Rex Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/rex-airlines) · 6
- NC [National Jet Express](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/national-jet-express)
- QF [Sunstate Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/sunstate-airlines)

### Passenger (8)

- QF [QantasLink](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/qantaslink) · 7
- TL [Airnorth](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/airnorth) · 3
- QF [Qantas Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/qantas-airways) · 3
- VA [Virgin Australia](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/virgin-australia) · 3
- NZ [Air New Zealand](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-new-zealand) · 1 · seasonal
- PX [Air Niugini](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-niugini) · 1
- FJ [Fiji Airways](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/fiji-airways) · 1
- SQ [Singapore Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/singapore-airlines) · 1

### Cargo (1)

- QF [Qantas Freight](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/qantas-freight) · 5

Former hub of [Air Queensland](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/air-queensland), [Australian Airlines](https://dromopedia.com/airlines/australian-airlines).

## Rankings

Ranked among 48,075 open airports; = marks a shared place.

| Measure | Value | World | Region | Country |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Passengers | 3.8M (2022) | #397 of 3,974 | #11 in Oceania | #7 in AU |
| Longest runway | 3,197 m / 10,489 ft | #887 of 29,858 | #18 in Oceania | #8 in AU |
| Elevation | 3 m / 10 ft | =42,364 of 43,403 | =2,147 in Oceania | =1,230 in AU |
| Age | Opened 1936 | =649 of 15,079 | #26 in Oceania | #20 in AU |
| Runways | 1 | =4,364 of 29,978 | =526 in Oceania | =468 in AU |

## Radio frequencies

| Type | Description | MHz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A/D | APP/DEP | 118.400 |
| ATIS | ATIS | 113.000 |
| CLD | CLNC DEL | 121.700 |
| GND | GND | 121.700 |
| TWR | TWR | 124.900 |

## Nearby airports

- [AU-0297](https://dromopedia.com/airports/au-0297.md) Koah Airport · 25 km / 16 mi
- [MRG](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ymba.md) Mareeba Airport · 41 km / 25 mi
- [YYAK](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yyak.md) Yalkulka Airport · 46 km / 28 mi
- [YATN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yatn.md) Atherton Airport · 49 km / 30 mi
- [YHTN](https://dromopedia.com/airports/yhtn.md) Herberton Airport · 72 km / 45 mi
- [YDIM](https://dromopedia.com/airports/ydim.md) Dimbulah Airport · 75 km / 47 mi

## Sources

- [NOAA Aviation Weather Center](https://aviationweather.gov/data/api/): Weather data: NOAA Aviation Weather Center (Public Domain (US Government))
- [OurAirports](https://ourairports.com/data/): Airport data from OurAirports (Public Domain)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org): Structured data from Wikidata (CC0 1.0)
- [Wikipedia: “Cairns Airport”](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cairns_Airport&oldid=1376158707), revision of 22 Sep 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- [timezone-boundary-builder](https://github.com/evansiroky/timezone-boundary-builder): Time zone boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors, timezone-boundary-builder (ODbL 1.0)
- Every figure with its source: https://dromopedia.com/airports/ybcs/data