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Work will begin next year on an upgrade of the international terminal at Cairns airport.
The upgrade was one of several projects announced in a “statement of intent” that sets out priorities for Cairns Airport through until 2040.
A $55 million upgrade of the domestic terminal was completed in 2020, but with the return of overseas flights to Cairns, the 32-year-old international terminal needs attention.
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Flights have resumed to Japan, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.
The direct Jetstar service to Bali has been suspended until November, due to falling demand.
The Cairns Airport statement of intent is based on modelling of population growth, passenger demand, and advances in technology.
It includes an ambitious environmental strategy, including a shift to carbon neutral operations, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and reducing water use and waste output.
Cairns Airport CEO, Richard Barker, said new technology will expand international offerings and bring environmental benefits.
“We see more markets in Asia being accessible, such as Vietnam, India, and South Korea, as well as regional ports in Japan,” he said.
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“The new generation of fuel-efficient planes, which are due to start arriving in the next two to three years, will mean that destinations such as Japan and Korea will be accessible to planes that use half the fuel of existing planes, reducing emissions by 50 per cent.”
Cairns Airport also intends to create an aeromedical and emergency precinct for emergency service operators operating from here to northern Australia and the Pacific.
There’s also a plan to build a new helicopter precinct, and a light industrial area on the Captain Cook Highway in Aeroglen.
Main points
- International terminal upgrade to begin next year
- New helicopter precinct and industrial area also planned
- Airport commits to going carbon neutral by 2025
