Coffs Harbour Airport

Coffs Harbour Airport (IATA: CFS, ICAO: YCFS) (formerly ICAO code of YSCH until November 2007) is the only airport serving the City of Coffs Harbour, in the New South Wales Mid North Coast region in Australia. The airport is located 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Coffs Harbour and is one of the busiest regional airports in the state, serving flights to the east coast capital cities, as well as some regional destinations. Coffs Harbour Airport has the capacity to handle large aircraft such as the Boeing 767 or Boeing 777 but is predominately served by regional airlines using smaller aircraft.

Coffs Harbour Airport
View of the airport terminal from the runway
IATA: CFS ICAO: YCFS
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Coffs Harbour City Council
Operator	Palisade Investment Partners
Location	Coffs Harbour
Elevation AMSL	18 ft / 5 m
Coordinates	30°19′12″S 153°07′00″E / 30.32000°S 153.11667°E / -30.32000; 153.11667
Website	www.coffsharbourairport.com
Map
YCFS Location in New South Wales
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 03/21 2,080 6,824 Asphalt 10/28 849 2,785 Asphalt
Statistics (2021–22)
Aircraft movements 17,662 Passengers 178,514
Sources: AIP,^[1] Aircraft movements from Airservices Australia^[2]

Virgin Blue Bombardier E190 from Observation Deck

View of departures lounge, in the middle of the terminal, with a Virgin Blue E190 on the tarmac in the background

View of check-in area, at the northern end of the terminal

In 2021–22 the airport handled 17,662 total aircraft movements. The terminal handled a record 413,103 passengers in the 2017–18 financial year,^[3] making it the 22nd busiest airport in Australia.^[4] However, the impacts of travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in revenue passengers, with the airport handling 178,514 during 2021–22, falling to the 28th busiest airport.

History

The airport was established by the council in 1928. It was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II for the purposes of an airbase for anti-submarine patrols. No. 71 Squadron and 'C' Flight No. 73 Squadron operated from the base from 1943 until being disbanded in late 1944. No. 12 Operational Base Unit maintained and serviced the airfield during its operation. A number of bunkers associated with the RAAF's occupation exist near the airfield, including one which has been repurposed as a gallery containing a large collection of cartoon art.^[5]

With the introduction of Fokker F28 regional jets by Airlines of New South Wales in 1983, Coffs Harbour was identified by the Federal Government as one of six regional centres in the state to receive airport upgrades to support their operation. These works were estimated to cost $9.6 million, involving the construction of a new runway, taxiways, apron and terminal building, and an air traffic control tower, all expected to be completed by September 1985. Projections at this time were that the airport would handle in excess of 26,000 aircraft movements and 112,000 passengers by the year 2000.^[6]

In August 1999 the runway was widened from 30 to 45 metres to accommodate Boeing 767s.^[7]

From the early 2000s, the airport became a regular destination for training flights by cadets from the Singapore Flying College, owing to its favourable weather, surrounding high terrain and air traffic control facilities.^[8]

In 2015, Coffs Harbour Airport secured funding from the Government of New South Wales to expand the apron space to allow more parking for narrowbody jet aircraft, as well as upgrades to the security screening and baggage facilities.^[9] These works increased the number of parking bays at the terminal from three to five, which can be occupied simultaneously.^[10]

In late 2020, the City of Coffs Harbour entered into a 50-year agreement, leasing the airport to Palisade Investment Partners to operate and develop the airport. This agreement included the development of the 23 ha (57 acres) Airport Enterprise Park, adjacent to the general aviation facilities north of the main terminal.^[11] This construction resulted in the permanent closure of taxiway E5, which was equipped with edge lighting to facilitate the movement of aircraft to the general aviation area at night. During construction, the smaller runway 10/28 was also closed, fueling speculation that it too would be permanently closed and converted to a taxiway. While this was denied by the airport's management, it was conceded that the future of the runway was under review, with safety given priority over development.^[12]

In February 2022, start-up Low-cost carrier Bonza announced that the airport would become one of its 17 destinations with the airline planning to fly to the Sunshine Coast from Coffs Harbour using Boeing 737 MAX jets.^[13]

Facilities

Coffs Harbour Airport is one of the few regional airports in New South Wales to have an Air Traffic Control tower, as well as Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) capabilities, however both of these services generally operate during daylight hours only. When the tower is closed, pilots are required to communicate via a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to safely co-ordinate arrivals and departures. Airline operations are limited to the main runway, 03/21, which measures 2,080 m × 45 m (6,824 ft × 148 ft) and can be used for instrument approach procedures. The secondary runway, 10/28, does not provide any lighting or approach guidance and is only suitable for aircraft under a maximum takeoff weight of 5,700 kg (12,600 lb).^[1]

Inside the terminal is a small Qantas Regional Lounge, accessible to Qantas Club and frequent flyer program members,^[14] There are two cafes in the public departures lounge, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal.^[15] The airport offers both open air and undercover secure paid parking.^[16][17] Immediately north of the main terminal is a smaller charter terminal that does not provide security screening.^[1]

The general aviation area, located north of runway 10/28 supports airport related businesses including aircraft maintenance providers, a bulk fuel storage facility, flight training, and fixed-base operators. There are also a number of community organisations and emergency services located in this precinct, including local units of the Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Air League, the Coffs Harbour Aero Club, a New South Wales Rural Fire Service control centre and facilities for aero medical operators.^[18]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Link Airways	Brisbane^[19] Seasonal: Canberra^[20]
QantasLink	Melbourne,^[21] Sydney
Rex Airlines	Sydney

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at CFS airport. See Wikidata query.

Annual passenger statistics for Coffs Harbour Airport^[4]

Year^[3]	Total passengers	Aircraft movements
2010–11	341,116	6,928
2011–12	336,369	5,983
2012–13	357,624	5,863
2013–14	383,051	5,925
2014–15	354,212	5,572
2015–16	375,530	5,708
2016–17	405,624	6,151
2017–18	413,103	5,865
2018–19	396,392	5,720
2019–20	289,116	4,560
2020–21	130,262	3,826
2021–22	178,514	4,835

Operations

Busiest Domestic Routes out of Coffs Harbour Airport (Year Ending December 2021)^[22]

Rank	Airport	Passengers	% change	Carriers
1	New South Wales, Sydney Airport	113,002	4.5	QantasLink, Rex
2	Victoria, Melbourne Airport	no data yet	no data yet	QantasLink
3	Queensland, Brisbane Airport	no data yet	no data yet	Link Airways

Ground Transport

Forest Coach Lines route 364 provides a regular local bus service linking the airport with the Coffs town centre as well as the southern suburbs of Toormina and Sawtell.^[23] Local taxis are also available from the airport, while the a number of regional coach services connect the airport to the surrounding region via the Pacific Highway.

Incidents and accidents

• On 15 May 2003, an Ambulance Service of New South Wales Beechcraft B200C King Air aircraft had to make an emergency landing at Coffs Harbour Airport, after it hit the sea or a reef near the Coffs Harbour boat harbour, during an instrument approach in heavy rain and poor visibility. One of the main landing gear legs was torn off; there were no injuries.^[24] The aircraft was subsequently scrapped.

See also

• List of airports in New South Wales

References

1. YCFS – Coffs Harbour (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 21 March 2024
2. "Movements at Australian Airports" (PDF). Airservices Australia. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
3. Fiscal year 1 July – 30 June
4. "Airport Traffic Data 1985-86 to 2021-22". Bureau of Infrastructure & Transport Research Economics. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
5. "National Cartoon Gallery at The Bunker, Coffs Harbour". MTV. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
6. "Upgrading of Facilities for Introduction of F28 Aircraft, Wagga Wagga Airport" (PDF). Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. 1984. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
7. Coffs Harbour Australian Aviation issue 154 September 1999 page 23
8. "Singapore Airlines reaffirms using Coffs Harbour for training". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
9. "Passenger growth behind major upgrade to Coffs Harbour Airport". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
10. "Coffs Harbour Airport". Boral. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
11. "Palisade Investment Partners Confirmed for Coffs Harbour Airport Lease". Triple M. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
12. "Coffs Runway Closure no Certainty: Airport Boss". Australian Flying. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
13. . Bay 93.9. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
14. Chris C (12 April 2017). "New Qantas Regional Lounge opens in Coffs Harbour". Executive Traveller. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
15. "Coffs Harbour Airport Guide". Sleeping in Airports. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
16. Coffs Airport Facilities 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed 13 May 2011
17. . Archived from the original on 13 October 2017.
18. "Coffs Harbour Airport Master Plan Update 2019" (PDF). Coffs Harbour City Council. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
19. "Corporate Air expands into RPT services with nonstop Brisbane-Coffs Harbour flights". Australian Aviation. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
20. Lindell, Jasper (6 July 2022). "New direct Link Airways flights to link Canberra and Coffs Harbour from September". Canberra Times.
21. "Qantas adds new routes to north coast for holidays by the sea". Qantas. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
22. [1] "Australian Domestic Aviation Activity Annual Publications". 22 April 2022.
23. "North Coast Network Map". Forest Coach Lines. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
24. Final ATSB report into the Coffs Harbour CFIT accident 18 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed September 2007

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coffs Harbour Airport.

• Coffs Harbour and District Aero Club