The old runway is now used as a taxiway and helicopter landing site for the many helicopters servicing the facilities in the North West Shelf gas field and marine pilot transfers for iron ore and gas ships using the nearby ports of Dampier and Walcott.

In the year ending 30 June 2009[3] the airport handled 486,582 passengers, an increase of almost 100,000 since 2008, and was ranked 18th busiest in Australia.

The $35 million upgrade provides several major changes within the terminal and includes a new cafe, bar, combined arrivals and departure area, new toilet facilities, improved security screening and baggage reclaim.

Qantas previously linked Karratha with Brisbane, as well as Melbourne and Sydney,[5] but withdrew the services in 2014 amid a downturn in the mining industry.

[6] Flights between Karratha and Brisbane were set to resume in 2018,[7] but after would-be operator JETGO Australia was placed into liquidation, the service was cancelled.