As airport locations go, Broome International Airport is surely hard to beat. Sitting between Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay, passengers are treated to some incredible views on landing and take-off.
On the ground, Broome’s compact size means the transfer to your accommodation is short and sweet – you’ll reach most places in Broome in 15 minutes or less!
With multiple daily flights from Perth and seasonal direct flights from the East Coast and Darwin, the airport can be the first stop for your Broome holiday and your Kimberley adventure. If you haven’t been in a while, major upgrades to both the arrivals and departures terminal will give you an even warmer welcome to Broome and the Kimberley. These upgrades reflect an investment of over $ 16 million in proudly using local contractors, into the Broome community. The recent upgrades include:
- An extended and refurbished check-in hall;
- Enlarged security screening area;
- Air conditioning the arrivals terminal;
- Extension to the Nakamura’s Café dining area
- New vehicle drop-off area with a covered walkway
- A second arrival hall. That includes an additional baggage belt, artwork by the traditional owners to welcome people to Broome, and an upstairs departure lounge.
If you’re set for adventure, you’ll be making your way back to the airport for one of the scenic flight adventure tours that depart from the airport to places like the Horizontal Falls, Dampier Peninsula, Mitchell Falls (Punamii-Unpuu) and Purnululu National Park. There are also daily flights from Broome to Derby.
Planning to fly to Broome? From December 2023 to March 2024 fly from Perth to Broome from $189 one way with Virgin Australia. To find your affordable airfares, click here.
As a bonus, here are some ways to enjoy that Broome plane-spotting life:
📷 Get ready for some happy snaps as you come in to land!
🦆 Duck when it’s your first time hearing a plane approach over Chinatown 😊
🎬 Enjoy a 3D movie experience as the early evening fight lands while you’re at the flicks at Sun Pictures – bonus points if your movie choice fits the theme!
👋 Wave to departing passengers as you relax on Cable Beach.
🏃🏾♂️🏃♀️ 🏅 Training for the Cable Beach Marathon this year? BIA is the proud sponsor of this great event.
The airport is also an important piece of Broome’s heritage, having been part of:
- Australia’s first scheduled air service, as a stop on the route from Geraldton to Derby. The inaugural flight, with three Bristol tourer aircraft took off on 5 December 1921 led by Sir Norman Brierly. A Centenary commemoration was held at the airport in June 2021 – look for the commemorative mural, painted by artist Sobrane in association with the Aero Club of WA and Broome International Airport.
- During WWII, while many residents had already been evacuated, Broome was still a busy transport with the airfield and Roebuck Bay acting as transit and refuelling stops. On 3 March 1942, a devastating air attack strafed both the airfield and Roebuck Bay, with the loss of many lives. The Broome Historical Society Museum at Town Beach has dedicated part of its exhibition space to the events on that day, there is a commemorative public artwork at Town Beach and a plaque on Carnarvon St. Gus Winckel Dve, the access road to the General Aviation section of the airport, is named for one of the heroes of that day.
- What must have been the most unusual Visitor Centre in Australia at the time - from 1976 to 1981, tourists climbed aboard a DC3 plane which had made an emergency landing at Broome airport in January 1974!
