Onslow Airport (ONS)

Departures from Onslow Airport (ONS) at a glance

• 3flights a day69th busiest of 111 airports
• 1route from here
• 2airlines
• 10:50 – 21:00first and last00061218

Collected 12 October 2026. Not live — check with the airline before booking.

Onslow Airport (ONS) is about three kilometres south of the Onslow town site in Western Australia (WA). The Shire of Ashburton owns and operates it, it is fully licensed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and it is a Security Controlled Airport. This site's schedule records show direct flights from Onslow Airport to Perth with Qantas and Virgin Australia.

The things to plan around are a terminal the Shire lists as open on weekdays, a baggage drop that the Shire says closes 30 minutes before departure, a five-minute parking limit at the terminal front, and car hire that the Shire lists as closed at weekends. Onslow Airport reopened after just one day following Cyclone Narelle in March 2026, and the Western Australian Government's cyclone guidance gives November to April as the season on the north west coast.

The terminal at Onslow Airport

The Shire's Onslow Airport page lists the terminal's opening hours as Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. The airline check-in desks are directly inside the terminal entrance, and the Shire says check-in opening times vary, so confirm them with your airline before you arrive.

The Shire says airlines recommend presenting for check-in at least 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time. It also says the baggage drop closes 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, and that passengers who arrive later will not be allowed to board with their luggage.

Airline luggage tags are available in the departure terminal. Baggage allowances vary by airline, so check yours with Qantas or Virgin Australia, and ask the airline about restricted items and dangerous goods.

Food and drink at Onslow Airport

The Shire's airport page describes the Onslow Airport Kiosk, outside the Departures Lounge, as a bistro with inside and outside seating. It sells hot and cold drinks, hot food, sandwiches, snacks and confectionery. Vending machines in the terminal sell chilled drinks and snacks, and they accept notes and coins only.

Lost property at Onslow Airport

For something left on an aircraft, contact your airline. For something lost in the terminal, the Shire asks you to contact Onslow Airport.

Security screening at Onslow Airport

The Shire says passenger screening at Onslow Airport is conducted to federal standards, using x-ray machines, walk-through and handheld metal detectors, and random explosive trace detection checks. Checked baggage is screened in line with government regulations. Security cameras cover the terminal, the car park and the airport precinct, and unattended items are treated as suspicious.

The Australian Government sets general conditions for when an open charter or regular public transport air service must be screened. It says a service must be screened if it:

• uses aircraft with a seating capacity of 40 or more persons
• operates from an Australian designated, tier 1 or tier 2 security controlled airport
• uses any aircraft departing from the same apron as a screened air service operating at a designated airport

When the liquids restrictions apply

The Department of Home Affairs TravelSECURE page says its restrictions on liquids, aerosols and gels apply in these situations:

• when departing Australia
• when transiting through Australia from one country to another
• when travelling on the domestic leg of a flight departing from an Australian international terminal
• before boarding an inbound flight at its last point of departure before it reaches Australia

The same page lists items you cannot carry on board, such as knives, tools and bats. It also says security screening officers have the final say on whether an item can go on board.

Getting to and from Onslow Airport

Onslow Road forms the western boundary of the airport and runs to the Onslow town site, and the Shire says it also connects with the North West Coastal Highway about 75 kilometres to the south. Tourism Western Australia puts Onslow town centre a four-minute ride from the airport by car or taxi. The Mackerel Islands resort says a taxi service also operates from Onslow Airport.

Car hire at Onslow Airport

The Shire says Europcar car hire is available at Onslow Airport, and lists Europcar's hours as Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm, closed on Saturday and Sunday, at an address on Beadon Creek Road. Tourism Western Australia says car hire is available from the arrivals end of the terminal. Confirm the pick-up point and your collection time with Europcar when you book, particularly if you land outside those hours.

Parking and set-down at Onslow Airport

The Shire describes the car park as available for short-term passenger parking. The airport has a passenger set-down area, and the driver must stay with the vehicle at all times. Parking at the terminal front is limited to five minutes, with the driver remaining in the vehicle.

Leaving the vehicle may result in an infringement notice and a breach of aviation security requirements, the Shire says. A disability parking bay is available only to vehicles displaying the appropriate sticker.

Airport transfers for Mackerel Islands guests

The Mackerel Islands operator says guests check in at Onslow Beach Resort before heading to the islands, and that transfers between Onslow Airport and the resort run on the resort's mini-bus. The transfer is booked through the resort.

Direct domestic flights recorded from Onslow Airport

Direct domestic flights recorded from Onslow Airport go to the destination below, with Qantas and Virgin Australia. Visit Ashburton, the Shire's tourism site, puts the flight from Perth at about two hours.

Destination	Airport	Airlines recorded
Perth	Perth Airport (PER)	Qantas, Virgin Australia

The Shire says residents of regional postcodes are eligible for discounted fares from the airport to their nearest capital city, and that this covers all Shire of Ashburton postcodes (6751, 6754, 6710 and 6716). Eligibility is checked with Qantas and Virgin Australia.

Onslow and Perth are both in Western Australia, which does not observe daylight saving. Queensland and the Northern Territory do not either, while New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory do.

Cyclone season and Onslow Airport

The Western Australian Government's cyclone guidance says cyclones can affect the north west coast from November to April. It names the coastline between Broome and Exmouth as the most cyclone-prone region in Australia.

In a post published on 31 March 2026, the Shire said Cyclone Narelle had left Onslow with minimal damage, and that critical works on urgent electrical issues let Onslow Airport reopen after just one day. ABC News reported the same day that Onslow, Exmouth and Coral Bay had suffered property damage and flooding, and that the Shire was asking visitors not to travel to Onslow because water was limited. If you are flying between November and April, check your flight with the airline before you set out.

Runway and apron plans at Onslow Airport

The Western Australian Government lists an Onslow Airport pavement upgrade as "In Planning". The project covers improvements to pavement strength and runway length to support modern, larger aircraft, and the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure administers it in partnership with the Shire of Ashburton.

The Shire published a tender on 28 May 2026 for the detailed design of runway, taxiway and apron strengthening, apron expansion and airfield ground lighting at the airport. The tender closed on 29 June 2026.

History of Onslow Airport

The Shire's history records aircraft flying into Onslow since the 1920s, an airfield upgraded in early 1942 during the Second World War, and a passenger service from the 1950s to around 1973. The Shire acquired the airport in 1985, when the land was transferred from the Commonwealth, and it has been a licensed facility since 1993.

The Shire began redeveloping the aerodrome in June 2012, and the redeveloped Onslow Airport was officially opened on 24 August 2015. The works included a new 1900 metre runway, a taxiway and apron, new lighting and navigation aids, a new terminal with passenger and baggage screening, refuelling facilities, and a new access road and parking.

The redevelopment was funded by the Shire, the Chevron-operated Wheatstone Project and the State Government through Royalties for Regions. The Shire links the growth in air transport to Onslow to the start of the Macedon and Wheatstone projects.

Questions about Onslow Airport

Who runs Onslow Airport?

The Shire of Ashburton owns and operates Onslow Airport, which is licensed by CASA.

How far is Onslow Airport from Onslow town?

The airport is about three kilometres south of the Onslow town site. Tourism Western Australia puts the town centre a four-minute ride away by car or taxi.

When is the terminal at Onslow Airport open?

The Shire lists the terminal's opening hours as Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Check-in opening times vary, so confirm them with Qantas or Virgin Australia.

How early should I check in at Onslow Airport?

The Shire says airlines recommend checking in at least 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time. The Shire says the baggage drop closes 30 minutes before departure.

Can I hire a car at Onslow Airport?

Yes, the Shire says Europcar car hire is available at the airport. It lists Europcar's hours as Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm, and closed at weekends.

Does Onslow change its clocks for daylight saving?

No. Onslow and Perth are both in Western Australia, which does not observe daylight saving.