Townsville Airport (TSV)

Departures from Townsville Airport (TSV) at a glance

• 39flights a day10th busiest of 111 airports
• 10routes from here
• 5airlines
• 07:00 – 22:10first and last00061218

Collected between 29 October 2026 and 30 October 2026. Not live — check with the airline before booking.

Townsville Airport (TSV) is in the suburb of Garbutt, about 5 km west of Townsville's city centre, and the airport puts it at around a 10-minute drive. It has one passenger terminal, with a domestic and an international departure lounge.

The airfield is shared with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF): its side of the airport is RAAF Base Townsville, and the Department of Defence runs air traffic control. The terminal is not open overnight: it opens at 4:30 am and is locked down after the last flight movement of the day.

The terminal at Townsville Airport

Opening hours and the overnight lockdown

Townsville Airport is open from 4:30 am until after the last flight movement every day, and the terminal is not open 24 hours. Between the last flight movement and 4:30 am it is locked down for security, and passengers and other people may not enter it or sleep in it overnight.

A late arrival followed by an early flight out therefore means a night somewhere other than the terminal.

Check-in at Townsville Airport

Check-in counters are inside the terminal and open ahead of scheduled flights, and some airlines also offer self-service kiosks or online check-in. The airport's advice is that most domestic airlines want you at the check-in counter at least 60 minutes before departure. The cut-off that applies is your airline's own, so check it with the airline.

Security screening at Townsville Airport

All passengers go through security screening, including friends and family who enter the secure departure lounge. The body scanners use non-ionising millimetre wave technology, which the airport says is not like an X-ray, and bags go through X-ray machines. Random explosive trace detection checks may also take place.

If you need assistance, or have a prosthetic, a medical device or equipment, tell the screening officer before screening starts.

Townsville Airport and RAAF Base Townsville

Townsville Airport is run by Townsville Airport Pty Ltd, owned by Queensland Airports Limited, under a Joint User Agreement with the Department of Defence. The company manages the civil area, including the terminal, apron and car parks, on a 50-year lease from the Commonwealth granted in 1998. Defence manages the military side as RAAF Base Townsville, runs air traffic control and maintains the runway and taxiways used by both.

The Air Force says night flying by military fast jets is limited to operational training and is usually finished by 9pm.

Getting to and from Townsville Airport

Option	Where at the airport	Notes
Translink bus route 222	Stop directly outside the terminal	To the Townsville City bus hub, The Strand, the Breakwater ferry terminal and the Palmer Street precinct; paper ticket onboard by card or cash
Taxi	Outside the terminal, at the arrivals end	Airport toll paid by the passenger; wheelchair-accessible taxis through the Kerbside Concierge
Rideshare	Designated rideshare area outside the terminal	Airport toll paid by the passenger
Townsville Shuttle Service	Arranged in advance	To city hotels and the Magnetic Island ferry terminal; bookings essential
Hire car	Rental desks inside the terminal	Booking ahead recommended, especially in peak periods

Bus route 222 from Townsville Airport

Translink's bus route 222 started on Monday 29 June 2026 and links the airport with the Townsville City bus hub, where it connects with other buses, and with the Breakwater ferry terminal for Magnetic Island. Translink lists it as running every 60 minutes, seven days a week, except Good Friday and Christmas Day. Check the Translink airport services page for the current timetable before you rely on it for an early or late flight.

Taxis, rideshare, shuttle and hire cars

Taxis and rideshare are outside the terminal, and rideshare pick-up is in the designated rideshare area. Both carry an airport toll that the passenger pays. Wheelchair-accessible taxis can be arranged through the airport's Kerbside Concierge.

The Townsville Shuttle Service runs from the airport to city hotels and the Magnetic Island ferry terminal, and bookings are essential. Major rental car companies have desks inside the terminal, and the airport recommends booking ahead, especially in peak periods.

Getting to Magnetic Island from Townsville Airport

Ferries to Magnetic Island leave from the Breakwater Ferry Terminal, which SeaLink describes as a short 8 km drive from the airport. Bus route 222 goes to the Breakwater Ferry Terminal, and the airport lists the Townsville Shuttle Service to the Magnetic Island ferry terminal. SeaLink says its fast ferries take 20 minutes to the island.

Pick-up and drop-off at Townsville Airport

The pick-up and drop-off zone is directly outside the terminal. Drivers must stay with their vehicle, no parking or waiting is permitted there, and penalties apply to unattended vehicles. Stopping outside the designated areas can bring a Parking Infringement Notice issued on behalf of the Australian Government.

If you are collecting someone, the Short Term Car Park is a short walk from the terminal and the operator lists 10 minutes free. The Free Holding area, a few minutes from the terminal, lets you wait with free Wi-Fi until the passenger calls, then meet them at the kerb.

Two accessible bays in the pick-up and drop-off area allow a stop of up to 15 minutes, with a valid disability permit displayed and the driver staying with the vehicle.

Parking at Townsville Airport, and the car park works

Parking is sold as Saver, which is open-air and about a 5-minute walk from the terminal, and Select, which is covered, well lit and about a 1-minute walk. Both are open 24 hours, have accessible bays and are booked online.

More car parks are being built, and an airport notice dated 26 August 2026 warns that construction may temporarily change parking availability and access, with the parking page adding access routes and pedestrian pathways. The work is staged, with alternative parking provided as required. Allow extra time to find a park and reach the terminal, and check the airport's parking page for the current changes.

Direct domestic flights recorded from Townsville Airport

Direct domestic flights recorded from Townsville Airport go to the places below, with the airlines recorded on each route. The airlines recorded are Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Rex and Airnorth, and check-in and baggage rules are each airline's own.

Destination	Airport	Airlines recorded
Brisbane	Brisbane Airport (BNE)	Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia
Cairns	Cairns Airport (CNS)	Qantas, Rex
Cloncurry	Cloncurry Airport (CNJ)	Qantas
Darwin	Darwin International Airport (DRW)	Airnorth
Hughenden	Hughenden Airport (HGD)	Rex
Mackay	Mackay Airport (MKY)	Qantas
Melbourne	Melbourne Airport (MEL)	Jetstar, Qantas
Mount Isa	Mount Isa Airport (ISA)	Qantas
Sydney	Sydney Airport (SYD)	Jetstar, Qantas
Winton	Winton Aerodrome (WIN)	Rex

New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory observe daylight saving. Queensland does not.

Facilities at Townsville Airport

Facility	Where
Qantas Club, for eligible passengers	Entry inside the domestic departures lounge
Free Wi-Fi	Throughout the terminal; log in with an email address or social media
Charging bench	Just past the security screening point
Automatic teller machine (ATM)	Within the departure lounges
Toilets, including accessible toilets	Near check-in, near baggage collection, and in the domestic and international departure lounges
Parent and baby rooms	At check-in, inside the domestic departures lounge and at arrival baggage collection
Water refill stations	Across from check-in, or in the domestic departures lounge
Free luggage trolleys	Arrivals area, Saver car park, car rental zone and pick-up and drop-off points
Luggage lockers (Rent A Locker)	Front of the terminal on Stinson Avenue

Luggage and keys cannot be left in the terminal for someone else to collect. The airport's suggestion is to hire a locker and give the other person the access code. The airport also says most shops open in line with flight schedules.

Accessibility at Townsville Airport

The airport publishes a Terminal Sensory Map marking low, medium and high sensory zones and a Disability Access Facilitation Plan. Ask your airline for assistance when you book. The Kerbside Concierge Team can help a passenger from the kerb into the terminal if it is arranged in advance on 1800 225 878.

History of Townsville Airport

The airport acknowledges the Wulgurukaba people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which it operates.

Townsville's first airport was set up in the late 1920s south of the Ross River, near Mount Stuart. The current site at Garbutt dates from 1939, at the same time as the RAAF base, and the main runway was completed in the 1950s.

The airport says that in 1983 it became the first regional Australian airport to offer direct long-haul international flights. Queensland Airports Limited took full ownership of the airport in 2005.

Plans for Townsville Airport

The Townsville Airport Master Plan 2023, approved by the Federal Government, sets out the airport's plans over a 20-year period. It proposes extending the terminal to the north with a new international arrivals facility, a possible common departure lounge for domestic and international passengers, and a relocated, expanded airline lounge on a new first floor.

The plan also proposes extending the ground transport lane along the front of the terminal and a possible new location for public bus services. It stages these works as passenger demand increases.

Questions about Townsville Airport

Is Townsville Airport open 24 hours?

No. The terminal opens at 4:30 am and is locked down after the last flight movement of the day, and passengers may not enter it or sleep in it overnight.

How do I get from Townsville Airport to the city centre?

Translink bus route 222 stops directly outside the terminal and runs to the Townsville City bus hub, The Strand and the Palmer Street precinct. Taxis and rideshare pick up outside the terminal, and the drive is around 10 minutes.

How do I get from Townsville Airport to Magnetic Island?

Go to the Breakwater Ferry Terminal, a short 8 km drive, by bus route 222 or by taxi. The airport also lists the Townsville Shuttle Service (bookings essential) to the Magnetic Island ferry terminal. SeaLink's fast ferries take 20 minutes to the island.

Is Townsville Airport also an Air Force base?

Part of it is: the airfield is shared, and the Department of Defence runs RAAF Base Townsville on the military side. Townsville Airport Pty Ltd runs the civil terminal and car parks, and Defence runs air traffic control and maintains the runway.

How early should I check in at Townsville Airport?

The airport's advice is that most domestic airlines want you at the check-in counter at least 60 minutes before departure. Your airline's own cut-off is the one that applies.

Can I leave luggage at Townsville Airport?

Not for someone else to collect: luggage and keys cannot be left in the terminal for collection. Rent A Locker runs lockers at the front of the terminal on Stinson Avenue, and you can give the access code to the person collecting.

Is there a lounge at Townsville Airport?

Townsville Airport has a Qantas Club for eligible passengers, entered from inside the domestic departures lounge.

Does Townsville 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.