Cairns Airport’s transformative Eastern Aviation Precinct will provide purpose-built and resilient infrastructure to cement the region as Australia’s northern gateway. This one-of-a-kind development will maximise opportunities for both existing operators and exciting, emerging sectors. 

Operations at the Eastern Aviation Precinct are expected to contribute up to $60 million to the region’s economy per year. 

Details 

  • Construction commenced in 2024 and will follow a staged approach. 

  • Four new aeronautical stands will be completed in 2027 under the first $60 million phase, enabling quicker turnaround for aircraft and ultimately catering to more passengers. 

  • Helicopter operators will have a new dedicated base, allowing for more frequent scenic flights and increasing tourism capacity. 

  • A state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar will position Cairns as an industry leader, unlocking capacity to service the growing Asia-Pacific region. 

  • The Eastern Aviation Precinct will feature new aeromedical and emergency response facilities, training areas and capacity for renewable fuel and energy production. 

Strategy and Opportunity 

  • Cairns Airport has Queensland’s second largest runway (3,190m to be precise). 

  • Our proximity to Asia’s growing aviation markets is unparalleled, presenting a significant advantage as airlines continue to adopt new long-range, narrowbody aircraft. These aircraft can fly directly to Cairns from a raft of Asian markets, but do not have the range to service many other Australian airports. 

  • Cairns Airport is an international gateway catering to more than five million passengers per year. Crucially, and unlike most other national ports, we still have vacant land for strategic development. 

  • Tourism last year generated $4.72 billion in local visitor expenditure, while the national air freight market is poised to reach USD $3.60 billion by 2033. The Eastern Aviation Precinct will unlock economic diversification, supporting tourism, mining, agriculture, and defence while creating up to 400 full-time jobs. 

  • The Eastern Aviation Precincts also central to Cairns Airport’s climate resilience strategy. Key infrastructure will be built to greater than Q100 flood immunity, helping to safeguard the aerial capabilities of our region. 

EAP Precinct Andy Belzacki 2 EAP Stage 1 Site area IMG1 IMG10 IMG2 IMG3 IMG5 IMG6 IMG7
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