Bundaberg Airport is a regional airport serving Bundaberg, a city in the Australian state of Queensland. It is located southwest of the city centre, on North Childers Road and Takalvan Street. The airport is owned and operated by the Bundaberg Regional Council. It is also known as Bundaberg Regional Airport.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has one of its nine Queensland bases at Bundaberg Airport.
The Bundaberg Regional Council conducted major works on the runway, terminal, carpark and navigation aids in 2009–10 in an attempt to attract services using larger jet airliners.
History Bundaberg Airport was officially opened on 12 December 1931, by the Minister for Trade and Customs, Frank Forde, as a civilian aerodrome. The aerodrome was renamed in 1936 to Hinkler Airport after Bundaberg's famous pioneering aviator Bert Hinkler.
World War II With the outbreak of World War II, it was decided as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan to requisition Bundaberg Airport and develop it as a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Flying Training School.
Known as RAAF Station Bundaberg it was initially used in 1941 by No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF (12 EFTS), until that unit relocated to Lowood Aerodrome (located at Tarampa) on 12 January 1942. No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF then operated from the base.
Units based at Bundaberg
No. 32 Squadron RAAF ('B' Flight) – 1 May 1943 – 4 September 1944 No. 66 Squadron RAAF – 20 May 1943 – 6 January 1944 No. 71 Squadron RAAF ('B' Flight) – 1 May 1942 – 26 January 1943 No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF – 14 December 1941 – 25 July 1945 No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF – 16 October 1941 – 12 January 1942 No. 88 Operational Base Unit RAAF – 14 June 1945 – 26 April 1946 Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force Personnel and equipment pool – 25 June 1945 – 26 April 1946.
Bundaberg War Graves Located within the Bundaberg General Cemetery, it contains the burial places of 46 soldiers and airmen of the Australian Forces and five airmen of the United States Army Air Forces.
Post war The Department of Civil Aviation took over Bundaberg Aerodrome on 31 July 1946. Bundaberg Regional Council took over the airport in June 1983.Bundaberg Airport Master Plan 2016-2026 Bundaberg Regional Council May 2016 A new terminal was opened on 9 May 1986. A major extension to Bundaberg Airport was completed in March 2010, making the runway capable of handling jet aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, and also including an expansion of the terminal.Airport Upgrade Bundaberg Regional CouncilAirport upgrade sparks interest from Virgin ABC News 6 January 2010High hops with airport upgrade The Courier-Mail 3 February 2010
Facilities The airport resides at an elevation of above sea level. It has two runways: 14/32 with an asphalt surface measuring and 07/25 with a grassed grey silt clay surface measuring .
Airlines and destinations
Link Airways operates services between Bundaberg and Brisbane;Link Airways route map, shown at page of the Link Airways website. Retrieved 3 July 2026 QantasLink also has flights from the airport.
In October 1966, Trans Australian Airlines was granted permission to use the airport despite protestations from Ansett Transport Industries, parent of Bundaberg Airport’s hitherto main operator Queensland Airlines.Equal rights for TAA at two towns Canberra Times 22 October 1966 page 3
In July 2017, Alliance Airlines commenced operating services in co-operation with Virgin Australia from Brisbane after the latter ceased ATR 72 operations in Queensland.Virgin to end turboprop operations in Queensland as ATR fleet reduced Australian Aviation 28 April 2017Submission Re: Virgin Australia / Alliance Airlines Bundaberg Regional Council 19 November 2020 Alliance Airlines withdrew from Bundaberg in September 2020.Air competition in Australia Australian Competition & Consumer Commission September 2020 page 13Virgin Australia, Alliance Airlines drop Bundaberg flights Executive Traveller 16 September 2020
In May 2023, Bonza commenced operating a twice-weekly service from Melbourne.Bonza's first passenger arrive from Melbourne Bundaberg Regional Council 10 May 2023Bundaberg having Bonza time Bundaberg Regional Council 19 July 2023 The service ceased in April 2024 after Bonza was placed in voluntary administration.Bonza budget airline in administration as flights across the country cancelled ABC News 30 April 2024
Statistics Bundaberg Airport was ranked 40th in Australia for the number of revenue passengers served in financial year 2024–2025. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
See also List of airports in Queensland
References
External links
RAAF Museum website