Cairns Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Small airport that served its purpose. Lift was out of order. 2 shops and 2 coffee shops. It may be expanded should the flights picked up to and from this airport. We arrived at international terminal and need to walk to domestic to pick up our hired car. Hire car costs about 200/day.

✅ Trip Verified | Cairns International Airport is little more than an oversized bus shelter. Whilst one concedes that it is a low-usage terminal with less than 8 flights per day (excluding mining charters), there is a lot that can be done to improve this airport. There is a distinct lack of working charging ports, noting that the USB ports adjacent to the cafe have been disabled. Tables and chairs are dirty/sticky. There is only one very expensive and oversubscribed café (ie, long queues to purchase over-priced, average quality food). There is one duty free store if that is your thing. There was a business lounge several years ago, but it has been long vacated with no immediate plans to reopen (this might change if there are more flights from full-service carriers in the future). There is no seating whatsoever near the boarding gates. There was no wi-fi coverage during my visit. On the positive front, customs/immigration/quarantine both on departure and arrival are rapid and staffed by friendly officials. It's a vast improvement on the horrendous queues in SYD, MEL and BNE. But as far as I'm concerned this is the only reason to transit through CNS Intl. In short, once you clear customs there is nothing of any interest, and no Wi-Fi coverage. A very drab and uninteresting terminal building with very little going for it.

✅ Trip Verified | International airport is just conveniently next to the domestic one. Only one coffee place and another shop to grab a bite. 2 souvenirs shops inside the gate. Considering only a handful flights, I think these are sufficient. There’s one filter water fountain near gate 2. Overall, it can be improved when it gets busier (more flights). Both elevator and escalator were out of order on the day we departed.

✅ Trip Verified | International airport is just next to the domestic one. Two coffee shops and 2 souvenir shops. Consider how small the airport is, these are sufficed. One water fountain near gate 2. Coffee from one of the vendors was alright. Both of the elevator and escalator were out of order on the day I flew.

Not Verified | As my wife and I arrived yesterday morning, we called in to Chocolate shop in Departure Lounge. I accidentally mislaid my wallet. When I arrived in Cairns city, I looked for my wallet. Panic set in! My wife called security at Cairns Airport. Some minutes later Anita rang back with good news. The wallet was found. She passed the wallet on to Security Trident in Departure Lounge ready to collect. We drove back. My wife called in to Departure Lounge with a boarding pass and found a very helpful Trident male security officer who despite being really busy with customers, found the time to hand the wallet to her with a very nice attitude. I am writing this review as I wanted to express my sincere thanks to Anita who was on a mission to help us. Big thank you to your staff.

Not Verified | Nice airport, but everything at it is exceptionally expensive. Bought a meal and paid about 2x what I would normally have to pay. Ridiculous prices. anyone would think it’d be cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne but is more!

Not Verified | Very poor transport links to the town and accommodation. Flight was late, luggage took over an hour to arrive. This put a few hundred people outside at 00:30. There were no busses and almost no taxis. The taxi queue was 250 meters long and moved very slowly. At 01:30 the queue was still 100 meters long. All the car hire companies were closed. There was no where open for food or drink. The airport experience gives the first impression of the town, Cairns needs to consider the impression it is giving out. Worst airport service I have experienced.

Not Verified | I was traveling with my 7 months old baby, of course I need to bring some water for the long flight. I didn't mind the security they checked the water and my bags. But the security officer lady was so rude, she sounded like a police officer talking to the criminal. Asked what was my water bottle for, and told me I can't touch my bag. I just carried my little baby to travel and I had been treated like a offender. Cairns airport security is the worst airport I ever seen! Once again I didn't mind they asked me any questions, check everything they needed, but please be nice and friendly. If they want to treat a passengers like a criminal, please be a police or they get the job in Karen restaurant.

Not Verified | The security check staff were unbelievably rude and disrespectful. Nil communication skills and as a result we felt most unwelcome. Not a good look for the gateway to the Barrier Reef.

Not Verified | Cairns Domestic Airport has to be one of the worst airports in Australia. Make sure you bring comfortable shoes as you will be doing some walking. The terminal actually has gates connecting to the aircraft from door, however it does not direct you directly to the terminal, rather than a venture down ramps and semi outdoor corridors eventually into the terminal building. When you arrive with another airline you will need to pick up your bags in a different building, then walk the long way around to the departure building. Then even the runway layout is special, where the aircraft have to turn against the runway then turn 360 degrees, for about a few hundred meters, this means that at busy times you can ensure some stationary time waiting to take off.