Cairns Airport - Changes to use of arrival paths

Airservices Australia needs to make some changes to the technical design of the short approaches at Cairns Airport so that certified non-jets, in this case QantasLink Dash 8s, can fly them.

Required Navigation Performance – Authorisation Required (RNP-AR), also known as short approaches, are a type of flight path that allows arriving planes to fly an accurate curved path before joining the final approach to land.

This type of flight path can only be flown by planes equipped with the required technology, and where the airline/operator has been authorised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to use them. QantasLink has recently equipped their Dash 8s (turboprops) to use short approaches and has been authorised by CASA to do so.

There are five short approaches into Cairns Airport which these Dash 8s will be able to use.

Residents may notice turboprops using the short approaches in addition to the jets that currently use them. Turboprops aren’t louder than jets, but the noise profile can be different. There will be no change to helicopter activity as they don’t use these flight paths.

The short approaches are expected to be available for use by turboprops from 3 September 2026.

  • For more information on these changes: download the factsheet here PDF 2.77MB (or from the document panel)
  • For information on our engagement approach for these changes: download the community engagement plan here PDF 520KB (or from the document panel)
  • View these flight paths over a map of Cairns: scroll down to the 'Interactive map' button
  • Subscribe for updates: enter your email address in the 'Stay informed' box (look for the megaphone to the right or scroll down if you're on a mobile device)
  • Questions? Please scroll down to the 'Ask a question' button, and we’ll answer as soon as we can.
  • Comments or concerns? Please scroll down to the 'Submit a comment' button, and we’ll include them in our review.

  • You can also contact us at communityengagement@airservicesaustralia.com or Locked Bag 747, Eagle Farm QLD 4009.

    Questions and comments close midnight, Sunday 7 June.

Airservices Australia needs to make some changes to the technical design of the short approaches at Cairns Airport so that certified non-jets, in this case QantasLink Dash 8s, can fly them.

Required Navigation Performance – Authorisation Required (RNP-AR), also known as short approaches, are a type of flight path that allows arriving planes to fly an accurate curved path before joining the final approach to land.

This type of flight path can only be flown by planes equipped with the required technology, and where the airline/operator has been authorised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to use them. QantasLink has recently equipped their Dash 8s (turboprops) to use short approaches and has been authorised by CASA to do so.

There are five short approaches into Cairns Airport which these Dash 8s will be able to use.

Residents may notice turboprops using the short approaches in addition to the jets that currently use them. Turboprops aren’t louder than jets, but the noise profile can be different. There will be no change to helicopter activity as they don’t use these flight paths.

The short approaches are expected to be available for use by turboprops from 3 September 2026.

  • For more information on these changes: download the factsheet here PDF 2.77MB (or from the document panel)
  • For information on our engagement approach for these changes: download the community engagement plan here PDF 520KB (or from the document panel)
  • View these flight paths over a map of Cairns: scroll down to the 'Interactive map' button
  • Subscribe for updates: enter your email address in the 'Stay informed' box (look for the megaphone to the right or scroll down if you're on a mobile device)
  • Questions? Please scroll down to the 'Ask a question' button, and we’ll answer as soon as we can.
  • Comments or concerns? Please scroll down to the 'Submit a comment' button, and we’ll include them in our review.

  • You can also contact us at communityengagement@airservicesaustralia.com or Locked Bag 747, Eagle Farm QLD 4009.

    Questions and comments close midnight, Sunday 7 June.

  • Share your comments or concerns with us

    Airservices is making operational changes to existing flight paths to support the use of flight paths by different kinds of aircraft. The change will be implemented in September 2026.

    This information is provided to the community so that residents are aware of the change in use of the flight paths and know what to expect. Residents are invited to let us know of any concerns that may need to be addressed before implementation. You can use this form, or email us at communityengagement@airservicesaustralia.com or write to us at Locked Bag 747, Eagle Farm Q 4009. 

    Please submit your comments by midnight, Sunday 7 June.

    Please note: you need to register with Engage Airservices to submit your comments through the website. Registration can be anonymous, but we ask you to provide your email address and suburb so that we can send you a confirmation of your submission and so that we can understand how these flight paths may relate to your location. For more information, please scroll up to 'Why register' at the top of this page (or go to engage.airservicesaustralia.com/whyregister). We won't contact you again unless you subscribe to updates. 

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Page last updated: 11 May 2026, 12:41 PM