Airports / Australia / CNS
Cairns International Airport.
Cairns, Australia · 10 ft elevation. 2 charter operators based here.
3.9/5
Google rating
3,404 ratings
2
Operators based
10
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Based operators
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
2 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 58% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
22 nm
To the nearest alternate
Mareeba Airport (MRG).
Overview
Cairns International Airport, listed as YBCS / CNS, is a large commercial airport in Cairns, Australia. The field lies at an elevation of 10 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
Charter departments call it home: Nautilus Aviation and SmartLynx Australia base aircraft at CNS. Useful alternates include Mareeba Airport (MRG, 22 nm), Cooktown Airport (CTN, 92 nm), and Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (TSV, 154 nm). CNS offers a single 10,489-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of CNS vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from CNS, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
YBCS
IATA
CNS
FAA / Local
YBCS
Elevation
10 ft
Coordinates
16.8789° S · 145.7495° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Australia fields
state range 7–4,260 ft
At 10 ft, CNS sits lower than 98% of the 191 Australia fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 10,489 ft
- 15/3310,489 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,489 ft
CNS's 10,489 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators2
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 22nmMRGMareeba AirportMareeba
- 92nmCTNCooktown Airport
- 154nmTSVTownsville Airport / RAAF Base TownsvilleTownsville
- 242nmCUQCoen AirportCoen
- 245nmKWMKowanyama AirportKowanyama
- 269nmPPPProserpine Whitsunday Coast AirportProserpine
Location
Open the full mapYBCS · Cairns International Airport · Cairns, Australia
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Cairns International Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CNS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 4,030 nm | 9h 46m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,590 nm | 13h 24m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 6,104 nm | 14h 36m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,223 nm | 14h 52m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 6,247 nm | 14h 56m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 6,428 nm | 15h 21m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 6,564 nm | 15h 40m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 6,610 nm | 15h 46m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CNS?
- Cairns International Airport's longest paved runway is 10,489 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CNS?
- Cairns International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 10,489 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at CNS?
- Yes. 2 charter operators list Cairns International Airport as a home base, including Nautilus Aviation, SmartLynx Australia. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to CNS?
- The closest alternate is Mareeba Airport (MRG), about 22 nm away, followed by Cooktown Airport (CTN) at 92 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CNS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 9h 46m (4,030 nm), Anchorage about 13h 24m (5,590 nm), San Francisco about 14h 36m (6,104 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.