In Australia, airports are the main way to communicate with the outside world due to the remoteness of the Green Continent from other continents. Therefore, close attention is paid to air transport, large funds are invested in their development. In addition, in a country with a large size and low population density, regional air routes are popular.
How many airports are there in Australia
According to various sources, there are about 440 airfields of various classes in the country: international, regional, local, private, military, seasonal, helipads. This number is constantly changing: some of them open, some have their license revoked. But among them, only 15 can boast a passenger flow of over 1 million people.
Airservices Australia has compiled a ranking of the largest and most profitable airports in Australia.
| Name | State | Passengers in 2017, millionman | IATA airport code |
| Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport | New South Wales | 42, 6 | SYD |
| Melbourne Tullamarine Airport | Victoria | 34, 8 | MEL |
| Brisbane Airport | Queensland | 22, 6 | BNE |
| Perth International Airport | Western Australia | 12, 4 | PER |
| Adelaide Airport | South Australia | 8, 1 | ADL |
| Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta) | Queensland | 6, 4 | OOL |
| Cairns International Airport | Queensland | 4, 9 | CNS |
| Canberra International Airport | Capital Territory | 3 | CBR |
| Hobart International Airport | Tasmania | 2, 4 | HBA |
| Darwin International Airport | Northern Territory | 2, 1 | DRW |
The most popular domestic routes in 2017 were:
- Melbourne-Sydney (9.1 million passengers);
- Brisbane-Sydney (4.7 million);
- Brisbane-Melbourne (3.5 million);
- Sydney-Gold Coast (2.7 million);
- Adelaide-Melbourne (2.4 million);
- Melbourne-Perth (2 million).
Sydney Airport. Kingsford Smith
This is Australia's largest international airport with over 40 million passengers. Moreover, the number of people using the company's services is increasing by 1-2 million annually. The port terminal is the longest in the world; in 2017, 348,904 aircraft were received and sent here. Kingsford Smith Airport serves 46 local and 43 international destinations.
The airstrip appeared in 1919 on the site of a pasture 8 km south of the center of Sydney. The field was flat, buffalo-packed and perfectly plucked by sheep, so flying club organizer Nigel Love didn't have to put in the effort to set it up. The first flight took place in November of the same year, but regular flights began in 1924.
Today, Sydney's main airport in Australia has 3 passenger terminals and the same number of runways: 7/25 with a length of 2530 m, 16L / 34R (2438 m) and 16R / 34L (3962 m). It is the main hub for one of the oldest international airlines, Qantas. The airport can be reached via the underground railway line Airport Link. In addition, major highways lead here from variousdirections.
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
This is Australia's second largest airport with over 30 million passengers. Located on a wide plain (132 m above sea level) 23 km from the center of Melbourne, in the northwestern suburb of Tullamarine.
The airport terminal consists of four passenger terminals: one international, two domestic and one budget domestic. There are two runways on the field: 9/27 (2286 m) and 16/34 (3657 m). In 2016, the organization served 234,789 aircraft.
Connection to the airport is via the 8-lane Tullamarine Freeway (M2) from Melbourne city centre. In 2015, another Western Ring Road (M80) was built to the airfield. Vehicles are ready to take 5 large parking lots, working around the clock. Passengers usually get either by taxi (the most popular option) or by Skybus Super Shuttle from Southern Cross train station.
Brisbane Airport
Australia's third-largest airport handles over 20 million passengers a year. It is the air gateway for both the millionaire city of Brisbane and all of South East Queensland. 30 airlines serving 29 international and 50 domestic destinations are served here. The largest operators are Virgin Australia, Qantas, Jetstar and Tigerair Australia.
The airport has international and domesticpassenger terminals, a cargo terminal, a general aviation terminal, as well as three runways with a length of 1700 m, 3300 m and 3560 m. In 2017, the company served 192,917 flights.
Perth Airport, Australia
It is the main hub in the west of the country. Since 1997, it has been operated by a private company, Perth Airport Pty Limited, under a 99-year lease. In recent years, passenger traffic has consistently exceeded 10 million people, having increased more than 3 times over 15 years. This is due to the explosive growth of the mining industry in the region, contributing to the increase in the population of the city and the expansion of business activity.
Interestingly, in 2012, Perth's airport was named the worst international airport in Australia. More than $1 billion was allocated for its modernization over the next 5 years. The efforts were not in vain: in 2018, Perth Airport was recognized as the best in the country in terms of quality of service. Today, the facility has four main terminals, one secondary for charter services and two runways: 3/21 (3444 m) and 6/24 (2163 m).
Adelaide Airport
Located in suburban West Beach about 6 miles west of downtown. Operating since 1955, a new double international domestic terminal was opened in 2005, which has received numerous awards. In 2006, it was named the second best international hub in the world (with 5 to 15 million passengers). In addition, repeatedly became the bestAustralian Regional Airport in 2006, 2009 and 2011.
During the fiscal year 2016-2017, Adelaide's air gates experienced record growth in passenger traffic, up 11% for international destinations and 1.5% for domestic and regional flights. This made it possible to achieve a historic result - 8,090,000 passengers carried.
