Formerly operated by the Cairns Port Authority, the airport was sold by the Queensland Government in December 2008 to a private consortium.

It is also a base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the search and rescue helicopters of the Queensland Government.

In 1997, the third stage of redevelopment was completed, during which a three-storey Airport Administration Centre was constructed providing 4,000 m2 (43,000 sq ft) of office space.

[8][9][10] The purpose of the upgrade was to prepare the terminal to handle the domestic portion of the airport's projected 6 million passengers annually from 2027.

[11] Virgin Australia announced in December of that same year that they would be commencing a daily direct service to Tokyo-Haneda to be launched on 28 June 2023 with the newly arrived Boeing 737 Max 8 fleet.

[14] The announced upgrades would be rolled out in stages to 'minimise passenger disruptions', the first of which would feature the installation of four new glass air-bridges and the re-cladding of the exterior of the building.

[15][16] In March 2024 it was announced that both Cairns and Mackay Airports would run on 100% renewable energy sources from 2025.

They are approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the Cairns Central Shopping Centre and situated on Airport Avenue off Sheridan Street (Captain Cook Highway).

The flight path to the north of the main runway is located directly overhead Cairns' northern beach suburbs.

Airport shuttle bus services to hotels, city centre, Northern Beaches, Palm Cove, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation are available.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Media related to Cairns Airport at Wikimedia Commons