Hamilton Island Airport Changes to Approach Procedures

This change has now been implemented.

Panoramic view of Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia showing white sand and clear blue water


What is going to change?

Airservices will implement changes for some aircraft arriving to Runway 14/32 at Hamilton Island Airport.

Residents of Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Woodwark and Daydream Island may experience less aircraft noise as the flightpath shifts further away from their communities.

Residents of Hamilton Island may notice some aircraft flying on a slightly different tracks as they approach the airport.

Aircraft overflying Lindeman Island will shift their tracks approximately 1.7km west of the current location, placing aircraft on the west coast of the island. This will result in a change to noise levels in the area.

A number of other changes will be made over water.

For more information on the changes please see our fact sheet.

Why are the changes necessary?

Airservices will replace older style ground based navigation (nav-aids), damaged by Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017, with more modern satellite procedures.

Aircraft are still able to land safely at Hamilton Island but these changes will increase airport capacity and provide aircraft with more predictable pre-determined flight paths.

These changes will be introduced in time to support the aviation and tourism sectors recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and will facilitate improved aviation operations into the future.

When will this change occur?

These changes will be effective from 10 September 2020.



What is going to change?

Airservices will implement changes for some aircraft arriving to Runway 14/32 at Hamilton Island Airport.

Residents of Airlie Beach, Cannonvale, Woodwark and Daydream Island may experience less aircraft noise as the flightpath shifts further away from their communities.

Residents of Hamilton Island may notice some aircraft flying on a slightly different tracks as they approach the airport.

Aircraft overflying Lindeman Island will shift their tracks approximately 1.7km west of the current location, placing aircraft on the west coast of the island. This will result in a change to noise levels in the area.

A number of other changes will be made over water.

For more information on the changes please see our fact sheet.

Why are the changes necessary?

Airservices will replace older style ground based navigation (nav-aids), damaged by Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017, with more modern satellite procedures.

Aircraft are still able to land safely at Hamilton Island but these changes will increase airport capacity and provide aircraft with more predictable pre-determined flight paths.

These changes will be introduced in time to support the aviation and tourism sectors recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and will facilitate improved aviation operations into the future.

When will this change occur?

These changes will be effective from 10 September 2020.


This change has now been implemented.