Route Network
Cairns Airport connects 28 destinations worldwide, with Brisbane City standing out as its busiest route. The longest nonstop flight is to Tokyo, and the shortest flight is to Townsville.
Route and destination data updated February 16, 2026.
Cairns Airport is served by 12 airlines, with Jetstar in the lead at 28% of routes. The top three carriers together cover 59% of routes. five carriers operate only one route each. A total of five airlines operate international routes, compared with eight airlines serving domestic routes. Jetstar is operating the longest nonstop flight, connecting to Tokyo with a flight time of 8 hrs 5 mins.
Cairns Airport provides direct service to eight countries across two continents. The route network is 71% domestic and 29% international. Japan is the primary international destination.
Global Rankings
Destinations
Measures how broadly the airport connects distinct endpoints.
- #547 - Total destinations
- #367 - Domestic destinations
- #515 - International destinations
Flights & Scheduling
Reflects flight volume and runway utilization.
- #417 - Total flights
- #306 - Domestic flights
- #510 - International flights
- #317 - Flights per runway
Distance & Reach
Highlights long-haul reach and distance efficiency.
- #332 - Total distance flown
- #212 - Distance per flight
- #262 - Distance per runway
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,528 ft 3,209 m 10,528 ft · 3,209 m | 148 ft 45 m 148 ft · 45 m | Asphalt | |
| 10,528 ft 3,209 m 10,528 ft · 3,209 m | 148 ft 45 m 148 ft · 45 m | Asphalt | |
| 3,035 ft 925 m 3,035 ft · 925 m | 60 ft 18 m 60 ft · 18 m | Closed | |
| 3,035 ft 925 m 3,035 ft · 925 m | 60 ft 18 m 60 ft · 18 m | Closed |
Runway Length
10 aircraft cannot operate at Cairns Airport due to runway length constraints. The airport’s longest runway is 10,528 ft (3,209 m), which is below the typical takeoff or landing distance required by the aircraft listed here.
| Aircraft | Takeoff | Landing |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777-300 | 10,597 ft 3,230 m 10,597 ft · 3,230 m | 5,906 ft 1,800 m 5,906 ft · 1,800 m |
| Boeing 747-100 | 10,650 ft 3,246 m 10,650 ft · 3,246 m | 6,168 ft 1,880 m 6,168 ft · 1,880 m |
| Boeing 747-8 VIP / BBJ | 10,801 ft 3,292 m 10,801 ft · 3,292 m | 7,001 ft 2,134 m 7,001 ft · 2,134 m |
| Boeing 747-8 Freighter | 10,801 ft 3,292 m 10,801 ft · 3,292 m | 7,001 ft 2,134 m 7,001 ft · 2,134 m |
| Boeing 747-300 | 10,827 ft 3,300 m 10,827 ft · 3,300 m | 6,919 ft 2,109 m 6,919 ft · 2,109 m |
| Boeing 747-400F | 10,827 ft 3,300 m 10,827 ft · 3,300 m | 6,890 ft 2,100 m 6,890 ft · 2,100 m |
| Boeing 747-400ER | 10,892 ft 3,320 m 10,892 ft · 3,320 m | 7,136 ft 2,175 m 7,136 ft · 2,175 m |
| Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde | 11,250 ft 3,429 m 11,250 ft · 3,429 m | 7,218 ft 2,200 m 7,218 ft · 2,200 m |
| Antonov An-225 Mriya | 11,483 ft 3,500 m 11,483 ft · 3,500 m | 10,827 ft 3,300 m 10,827 ft · 3,300 m |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71 | 11,499 ft 3,505 m 11,499 ft · 3,505 m | 5,909 ft 1,801 m 5,909 ft · 1,801 m |