Cairns Airport (CNS) is a midsize international airport in Tropical North Queensland and the main access point to get to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. It is well-connected to all large cities in Australia and receives flights from international destinations such as New Zealand, Singapore, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.
The airport is located 7 km north of the Cairns city center on reclaimed mangrove swamp.
In 2025, Cairns Airport handled nearly 5 million passengers, making it Australia’s seventh-busiest airport.
Major Airlines - Jetstar, Qantas, Skytrans
Domestic destinations are served by Australia’s largest carriers:
Qantas: Flies to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Virgin Australia: Flies to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, and seasonally to Adelaide.
Jetstar: The airline with the most destinations served from CNS, 5 of which are in Australia: Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sunshine Coast, and Sydney.
Regional destinations within the state are served mostly by Skytrans Australia, Hinterland Aviation, and Rex Airlines, and within the country at large by Qantas Link and Airnorth.
There are also a few international airlines present at Cairns. These include:
Singapore Airlines: Allows you to reach dozens of destinations around the globe by transiting in Changi Airport, Singapore.
Air New Zealand: Connects to New Zealand’s largest airport, Auckland.
Fiji Airways: Flies to the country’s main international airport in Nadi.
Air Niugini: Links Cairns with Port Moresby across the Torres Strait.
Cathay Pacific: Offers a seasonal flight to Hong Kong.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Cairns Airport has two terminals:
Terminal 1 (International): Smaller and has 10 gates, six of which use jetbridges.
Terminal 2 (Domestic): The bigger and newer facility with 17 gates, five of which use jetbridges.
The terminals are just 200 meters apart and connected via a covered walkway. Follow the yellow line to move between the terminals.
The airport opens two hours before the first scheduled flight of the day (usually around 4:00 AM) and closes after the last flight (usually around 1:00 AM). Staying inside either of the terminals overnight is not allowed.
Cairns Airport does not have an airside transfer. This means that you must clear security again when moving between any two connecting flights.
Free WiFi and Other Services
Free WiFi is available in both terminals, but is limited in duration:
In Terminal 1, you can use the wi-fi for free for up to 1 hour within 12 hours.
In Terminal 2, you can use the wi-fi for free for up to 30 minutes within 12 hours.
Connect to the “Airport Free Wifi” network and follow the on-screen prompts to use. On the welcome splash page, you will have the option to purchase additional duration and data at 3 AUD for an hour or 6 AUD for a day (bandwidth limited).
Other passenger services at CNS include:
ATMs: You can find machines operated by major Australian banks in the Arrival areas of both terminals.
Currency Exchange: Desks operated by Travelex in both terminals.
- Information Desk: One in each terminal:
Near Gates 1 and 2 of T1.
In the Departures Hall of T2.
Luggage storage: To use, contact the Car Park Service Kiosk, which is open daily from 6 AM to 6 PM.
Luggage trolleys: Free of charge in T1 (International) Arrivals Baggage Claim Area. In Terminal 2, they carry a 3 AUD charge.
Baby-changing facilities: Available in most washrooms throughout the airport.
Check out the best things to do in Cairns.
Lounges at Cairns Airport
The domestic terminal (T2) has the Qantas Club Lounge, located on Level 1, after Security. Turn left after the Security Checkpoint and up the escalator near Gate 20 to reach it.
The Qantas Club opens one hour before the first Qantas or Jetstar flight for the day and closes after the last. It welcomes eligible Qantas passengers and Qantas Club members and offers buffet food, various digital amenities, and wi-fi, and showers.
In the international terminal (T1), there is an Escape Lounge located between Gates 2 and 3 (airside). It is open daily to match the international flight schedule. The lounge welcomes passengers of all airlines with complimentary access to eligible Business class and other premium fliers, as well as holders of lounge passes. Pay-at-the-door is available for everyone else, costing 70 AUD for a 3-hour pass.
The Escape Lounge offers freshly brewed coffee, a complimentary bar, a menu of hot and cold dishes, and ultra-fast Wi-Fi.
Dining Options at CNS
There may not be as many restaurants, bars, and cafes in Cairns Airport compared to bigger hubs in Australia, but they still give plenty of choice when it comes to dining or grabbing a quick snack.
In the domestic terminal (T2), has better options, including:
The Coffee Club
Hungry Jack's
Saltwater Creek Taphouse
Sugar & Cane
Roll'd
Two Tigers
Oporto
Mr Green’s
Mangrove Jack’s
Captain's Sports Bar
Bistrot Bakery
Most venues remain open for all flights.
The international terminal (T1) has many fewer choices:
Fresh
High Tide Bar
Espresso Bar
Transport to and from the airport
Unfortunately, Cairns Airport does not have any public transport links to the city, which leaves you with only private options available.
Most conveniently, you can directly take a taxi from the sheltered taxi ranks in front of each terminal. Taxis serve the CBD, as well as the coastal area, Ellis Beach, to the north and south to Wrights Creek, Edmonton. The approximate fare to get to Cairns CBD is 30 AUD, including the airport surcharge.
Similarly, rideshare providers, such as Uber, have dedicated, signposted pick-up locations in front of each terminal - the eastern end of T1 and the northern end of T2 for pick-ups and right in front of the terminals’ entries for drop-offs.
Another popular way to travel from CNS to destinations in the region is by taking the scheduled Exemplar Coaches and Limousines. The company has desks in both T1 and T2 (Arrivals). One-way prices are:
Port Douglas: 65 AUD
Cairns CBD: 25 AUD.
Palm Cove: 40 AUD.
Lastly, renting a car is a convenient way to explore Tropical North Queensland. Car hire companies, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot, and SIXT, have counters in the Arrivals Hall of both T1 and T2.
Parking at Cairns Airport
Cairns Airport offers covered and uncovered car parks next to each terminal, plus Drop-off zones located directly outside each terminal.
In the Drop-off zone, no parking is allowed. It’s only intended for quickly passing through and picking up or dropping off passengers.
If you need more time, the uncovered car parks in front of each terminal offer a 10 minutes gratis period.
The parking facilities at CNS are:
T1 International Covered Car Park
T1 International Uncovered Car Park
T2 Domestic Covered Car Park
T2 Domestic Uncovered Car Park
The parking fees for the uncovered car parks are 10 AUD for the first hour and 2 to 4 AUD for each additional hour up to a daily maximum of 32 AUD. Additional days cost less, down to as low as 20 AUD.
Understandably, covered car parks charge slightly higher fees: 14 AUD for the first hour, 3 to 5 AUD for each additional hour up to a daily maximum of 40 AUD. Additional days are charged at 34 AUD each.
Online pre-booking is available and offers up to 40% lower prices.
Hotels near Cairns Airport
There are no hotels within the airport or in its proximity. The nearest full-service hotel is the Lakes Cairns Resort, about an 8-minute drive from the terminals. While the rooms it offers are exceptional, the highlight is surely the 4 large pools. Other facilities include on-site dining, BBQ, tennis, and basketball courts.
There are many other hotels to choose from closer to Cairns city. Click here to discover more hotels near CNS Airport.
Cairns, QL, Australia
