East Kimberley Regional Airport
The East Kimberley Regional Airport (IATA: KNX, ICAO: YPKU), locally known as the Kununurra Airport, is an airport in Kununurra, Western Australia. The airport is 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) west of the town.[2] Heavy wet seasons often result in this area being cut off from essential outside services and deliveries. The airport is a crucial piece of infrastructure which enables people and goods to enter or leave from the region and especially supports tourism and economic development.
East Kimberley Regional Airport | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
Owner | Shire of Wyndham East-Kimberley | ||||||||||
Serves | Kununurra | ||||||||||
Location | Kununurra, Western Australia | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 145 ft / 44 m | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 15°46′41″S 128°42′27″E | ||||||||||
Website | http://www.swek.wa.gov.au/community/airports | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
![]() ![]() YPKU Location in Western Australia | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Statistics (2010/11[1]) | |||||||||||
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In 2012, a major expansion of the airport was completed and opened to the public. Costing about AUD$8.68 million, it effectively doubled the size of the facility. This now includes a dedicated arrivals hall with baggage carousel, enlarged check-in area and improved security for the enlarged departure lounge.[4]
Airlines and destinations
Airlines | Destinations |
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Airnorth | Broome, Darwin Seasonal: Perth[5] |
Aviair | Balgo, Halls Creek, Kalumburu |
Virgin Australia | Seasonal: Melbourne[6] |
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines | Perth |
Charter airlines
Due to the long distances involved in traveling across the Kimberley region, several air-tours are offered by various charter airlines not based in Kununurra, hopping across the north-west of Australia. Occasionally connecting some major eastern Australian cities directly with Kununurra and with some bus tour companies too, to avoid lengthy transfers in Darwin or Perth.
Statistics
Kununurra Airport was ranked 47th in Australia for the number of revenue passengers served in financial year 2010–2011.[1][3]
Year | Revenue passengers | Aircraft movements |
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2001-02 | 37,134 | 2,200 |
2002-03 | 37,160 | 2,671 |
2003-04 | 40,239 | 2,625 |
2004-05 | 48,051 | 2,681 |
2005-06 | 50,901 | 2,556 |
2006-07 | 60,680 | 3,048 |
2007-08 | 69,483 | 2,817 |
2008-09 | 74,742 | 2,488 |
2009-10 | 81,933 | 2,514 |
2010-11 | 86,955 | 2,779 |
2011-12 | 91,459 | 2,257 |
2012-13 | 91,992 | 2,428 |
2013-14 | 86,279 | 2,250 |
2014-15 | 77,407 | 2,192 |
2015-16 | 74,334 | 2,170 |
2016-17 | 71,190 | 2,119 |
2017-18 | 69,599 | 1,991 |
2018-19 | 77,072 | 2,043 |
New terminal
![]() East Kimberly Regional Airport (Kununurra) departure lounge |
![]() View of East Kimberly Regional Airport (Kununurra) from the window of a Virgin Australia Fokker 100 |
![]() Airside view of East Kimberly Regional Airport (Kununurra) |
![]() Arrivals gate at East Kimberley Regional Airport |
Old terminal
![](../I/Kununurra_airport.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Kununurra_Airport.jpg.webp)
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to East Kimberley Regional Airport. |
- Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June
- YPKU – Kununurra (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 05 Nov 2020, Aeronautical Chart Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- "Airport Traffic Data 1985-86 to 2010-11". Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). May 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
- "Kimberley Page :: News and Information from Western Australia's Kimberley Region, Kunnunurra news, Fitzroy Crossing News, Broome News, Derby News, Halls Creek News". kimberleypage.com.au. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- "Airnorth". secure.airnorth.com.au. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- "Direct flights Melbourne to Kununurra commence 2020". Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- "Scenic Air Tours & Charter Flights". Scenic Air Tours & Charter Flights - Kimberley Air Tours. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- "Scenic Flights & Air Tours - Air Charter Services - Scheduled Flights". Scenic Flights & Air Tours - Air Charter Services - Scheduled Flights - Aviair. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- "Scenic Flights & Air Tours - Air Charter Services - Scheduled Flights". Scenic Flights & Air Tours - Air Charter Services - Scheduled Flights - Aviair. Retrieved 27 May 2019.