Coffs Harbour Airport (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 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 777-200 but is predominately served by regional airlines using smaller aircraft.
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, making it the 22nd busiest airport in Australia. 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.
With the introduction of Fokker F28 Fellowship 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.
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.
In 2015, Coffs Harbour Airport secured funding from the New South Wales Government to expand the apron space to allow more parking for narrowbody jet aircraft, as well as upgrades to the security screening and baggage facilities. These works increased the number of parking bays at the terminal from three to five, which can be occupied simultaneously.
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 Airport Enterprise Park, adjacent to the general aviation facilities north of the main terminal. 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.
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.
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 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 .