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Mackay Airport (MKY)
Departures from Mackay Airport (MKY) at a glance
- 20flights a day13th busiest of 111 airports
- 4routes from here
- 2airlines
- 07:00 – 19:35first and last
Collected between 11 October 2026 and 12 October 2026. Not live — check with the airline before booking.
Mackay Airport (MKY) is a 10 minute drive from the Mackay city centre, in Central Queensland. It is run by Mackay Airport Pty Ltd, part of North Queensland Airports, the privately held company that also owns and operates Cairns Airport.
The terminal holds check-in, the arrivals hall and the departures lounge, with the Qantas Club upstairs past security. The ibis Mackay hotel is 50 m from the terminal. Taxis, Uber, Translink bus route 303, pre-booked transfers and hire cars cover the trip away from the airport.
The terminal at Mackay Airport
Check-in at Mackay Airport
Most domestic airlines want you at the check-in counter at least 45 to 60 minutes before departure, according to the airport. Your airline's own cut-off is the one that applies, so check it with the airline. In September 2025 the airport named enhanced security screening technology and automatic bag drop facilities among its recent check-in upgrades.
The Customer Service Office is next to the Virgin Australia check-in counter.
Security screening at Mackay Airport
Cabin bags go through compulsory X-ray screening and passengers walk through a metal detector, with hand scanning, random bag searches and random explosive trace detection possible. Laptops and tablets come out of your bag to be screened separately. Smoking is not allowed in the terminal.
Members of the public can enter the departures lounge, but they must pass screening first.
Food, the Qantas Club and facilities at Mackay Airport
| Facility | Where |
|---|---|
| Qantas Club | Level 1 of the departures lounge: turn right after the security checkpoint, then take the stairs or lift |
| Outdoor observation area | Facing the apron and runway |
| Cash machines | In the departures lounge and at the arrivals end |
| Phone recharge units | Departures lounge |
| Toilets | Check-in, arrivals hall and departures lounge |
| Showers | In the check-in toilet block |
| Parenting rooms | Check-in area and departures lounge |
| Public pay phone | Opposite check-in |
Red Rooster, Boost Juice, The Botanist Kitchen and Bar, Carlyle and River Coffee Co., news@mky, Travel@MKY and Turbarlence at ibis Mackay are the names on the airport's shop and dine list. Free WiFi is limited to 30 minutes in each 24 hours, and the baggage trolleys need a coin.
Accessibility at Mackay Airport
Accessible parking bays are in the Short Term, Long Term and Covered car parks. The accessible pick-up and drop-off point, with a wheelchair ramp, is at the taxi-zone end of the terminal. Wheelchairs are available through a Customer Service Officer, or can be arranged with your airline booking.
Mackay Airport runs a Hidden Disabilities program and a Disability Access Facilitation Plan.
Getting to and from Mackay Airport
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Taxi | Rank outside the terminal, run by Mackay Whitsunday Taxis; an airport toll is added to pick-ups |
| Uber | Drop-off next to check-in; pick-up at the Bus Bay Area at the arrivals end |
| Translink bus route 303 | Between the airport and Caneland Central; the airport lists Monday to Saturday |
| Private transfer | Pre-booked with Off Camber Mountain Biking, Tours and Transfers, to Finch Hatton and Eungella |
| Hire car | Counters in the arrivals hall |
Taxis, Uber and drop-off at Mackay Airport
The taxi rank is outside the terminal and signposted inside. Mackay Whitsunday Taxis covers an area the airport describes as running from Sarina in the south to Airlie Beach in the north, and fares are set by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Drivers picking up at the airport add an airport toll on top of the metered fare.
Uber drop-off is next to check-in, and Uber pick-up is at the Bus Bay Area, at the baggage claim end of the terminal. Public drop-off is in front of the terminal.
Bus route 303 from Mackay Airport
Translink bus route 303 runs between Mackay Airport and Caneland Central, where it connects with other Mackay bus routes. The airport lists it as running Monday to Saturday, so check the airport's public transport page for the current timetable before you rely on it. For coach travel, the airport points to Greyhound for services to and from the Mackay city centre.
Transfers to Finch Hatton and Eungella
Off Camber Mountain Biking, Tours and Transfers runs pre-booked transfers from Mackay Airport to Finch Hatton and Eungella, and its vehicles carry bike boxes and luggage.
Hire cars at Mackay Airport
Car hire counters are in the arrivals hall, and the brands on the airport's car hire page include Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty and Sixt. Hertz and Thrifty share a counter. Rental return car parks are near the terminal.
Parking at Mackay Airport
| Car park | Cover | Distance to the terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Short Term | Uncovered | Opposite the terminal |
| Covered | Cyclone-rated shelter from sun and rain, with 20% more space per bay | Close to the terminal |
| Premium Long Term | Uncovered | Close to the terminal |
| Long Term | Uncovered | A 2 to 4 minute walk |
The first 15 minutes are free in each of these car parks, and parking can be booked ahead online. Tap, Park & Go lets you enter and leave with a credit card at every entry and exit lane, and pay stations taking cash and card are undercover beside the terminal and beside ibis Mackay. Help comes by intercom from the Wilson Parking team.
The car parks take vehicles up to 4.9 m long, 1.9 m wide and 4.0 m high, and up to 2.45 m high in the Covered Car Park. Trailers, caravans and floats are not allowed. Check the airport's parking page before you drive in with a tall vehicle.
Direct domestic flights recorded from Mackay Airport
Direct domestic flights recorded from Mackay Airport go to the places below, with the airlines recorded on each route. The airlines recorded are Jetstar, Qantas, Alliance Airlines and Virgin Australia, and check-in and baggage rules are each airline's own.
| Destination | Airport | Airlines recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | Brisbane Airport (BNE) | Jetstar, Qantas, Alliance Airlines, Virgin Australia |
| Cairns | Cairns Airport (CNS) | Qantas |
| Rockhampton | Rockhampton Airport (ROK) | Qantas |
| Townsville | Townsville Airport (TSV) | Qantas |
New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory observe daylight saving. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not. Mackay, Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville are all in Queensland.
Works at Mackay Airport
Mackay Airport's Future-Proofing MKY package covers a runway overlay, with sections of taxiways and aprons, an expansion of the public car parks and a terminal upgrade. The airport's timeline lists the main runway works for completion in November 2025, runway lighting and grooving for February 2026 and the car park expansion for December 2025. The terminal work covers renewal of key terminal areas, more passenger seating, upgraded bathrooms and a transformed observation deck. In September 2025 the airport said it would start in January 2026, and it lists completion for November 2026.
Next to the airport, the airport's news said in November 2025 that stage 1 of the Milton Precinct, a commercial development, was completed in September 2025 with its civil works and new roads. The airport said in November 2025 that the first tenancies were due to open in 2026, with planned uses including retail, food and beverage, short-term worker accommodation, health care and light industrial.
Mackay and the Mackay Isaac region
Tourism and Events Queensland places the Mackay Isaac region roughly halfway between Brisbane and Cairns, with the coastal city of Mackay on the edge of the Coral Sea and the Isaac region stretching west into Outback Queensland. It puts Mackay Isaac 1,000 km north of Brisbane along the Bruce Highway. The airport puts Airlie Beach about 150 km north of Mackay, a drive of about 2 hours. The state tourism body also calls Mackay Isaac a stop on the way to the islands of the Whitsundays.
For visitors, Tourism and Events Queensland points to Eungella National Park, high above the Pioneer Valley, and to the waterfalls of Finch Hatton Gorge. It also names mountain biking. Its advice is that Mackay is at its best from May to October, when it is dry and warm.
History of Mackay Airport
The aerodrome site was chosen in 1927, and in 1931 the airport licence was issued and the mayor officially opened Mackay Airport. The Federal Government took over ownership from Mackay City Council in 1941 and transferred it to the Mackay Port Authority in 1989. A new passenger terminal was built in the current location in 1991.
North Queensland Airports bought Mackay Airport from the Queensland Government in 2008, and the ibis Mackay hotel at the airport was completed in 2015.
Tropical cyclone season
The Bureau of Meteorology says the official tropical cyclone season in the Australian region runs from 1 November to 30 April, and that cyclone formation is rarely evenly spread through the season. It also says more cyclones cross the coast in La Nina years. Mackay Airport publishes a Cyclone Plan, and its Covered Car Park is cyclone-rated.
Questions about Mackay Airport
How far is Mackay Airport from the city centre?
The airport puts it at a 10 minute drive. Taxis and Uber pick up at the terminal, and Translink bus route 303 runs between the airport and Caneland Central, which the airport lists as Monday to Saturday.
How early should I check in at Mackay Airport?
Most domestic airlines want you at the check-in counter at least 45 to 60 minutes before departure, the airport advises. Your airline's own cut-off is the one that applies.
Is there a lounge at Mackay Airport?
Mackay Airport has a Qantas Club on Level 1 of the departures lounge. Turn right after the security checkpoint and take the stairs or lift.
Is there a hotel at Mackay Airport?
Yes. ibis Mackay is 50 m from the terminal, and the airport describes it as the only hotel in the Mackay Airport precinct.
How do I get from Mackay Airport to Airlie Beach?
Hire car counters are in the arrivals hall, and the Mackay Whitsunday Taxis service area reaches Airlie Beach. Airlie Beach is about 150 km north of Mackay, a drive of about 2 hours.
How do I get from Mackay Airport to Eungella?
Off Camber Mountain Biking, Tours and Transfers runs pre-booked transfers from the airport to Eungella and Finch Hatton, with room for bike boxes and luggage. Hire car counters are also in the arrivals hall.
Can people who are not flying enter the departures lounge at Mackay Airport?
Yes. Members of the public can enter the departures lounge, but they must pass security screening first.
Does Mackay change its clocks for daylight saving?
No. Queensland does not observe daylight saving. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory do.