Airports / Australia / DRW
Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin.
Darwin, Australia · 103 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.5/5
Google rating
32 ratings
0
Operators based
103
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#39 / 168
Australia airports by Google rating
4.5★ across 32 Google ratings , ranked against 168 rated Australia fields.
42 nm
To the nearest alternate
Bathurst Island Airport (BRT).
Overview
Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin (YPDN / DRW) sits in Darwin, Australia, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The airport sits 103 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into DRW for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Bathurst Island Airport (BRT, 42 nm), Snake Bay Airport (SNB, 61 nm), and Garden Point Airport (GPN, 67 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 11,004-foot paved runway, DRW can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from DRW depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Darwin.
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Field capability
ICAO
YPDN
IATA
DRW
FAA / Local
YPDN
Elevation
103 ft
Coordinates
12.4150° S · 130.8818° 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 103 ft, DRW sits lower than 67% of the 191 Australia fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 11,004 ft
- 11/2911,004 ft × 197 ftAsphaltLighted
- 18/365,000 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 11,004 ft
DRW's 11,004 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.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 42nmBRTBathurst Island AirportWurrumiyanga
- 61nmSNBSnake Bay AirportMilikapiti
- 67nmGPNGarden Point AirportPirlangimpi
- 136nmPKTPort Keats AirportWadeye
- 154nmKTRTindal Airport
- 191nmAU-0796Nackeroo Airfield
Location
Open the full mapYPDN · Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin · Darwin, Australia
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from DRW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 4,658 nm | 11h 14m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,747 nm | 13h 46m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,631 nm | 15h 49m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 6,649 nm | 15h 52m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 6,840 nm | 16h 18m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 6,999 nm | 16h 41m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 7,117 nm | 16h 57m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 7,143 nm | 17h 1m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use DRW?
- Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin's longest paved runway is 11,004 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 DRW?
- Darwin International Airport / RAAF Darwin has 2 runways; the longest measures 11,004 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to DRW?
- The closest alternate is Bathurst Island Airport (BRT), about 42 nm away, followed by Snake Bay Airport (SNB) at 61 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from DRW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 11h 14m (4,658 nm), Anchorage about 13h 46m (5,747 nm), Seattle about 15h 49m (6,631 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.