Broome International Airport Statistics

Broome International Airport (BME) is the main aviation hub for the Kimberley region in Western Australia. It connects remote northwestern communities to major cities through domestic airlines and occasional international services.

Broome International Airport handles around 400,000 to 465,000 passengers annually.

• In 2025, the airport served 461,769 passengers, a new record that reflects continued growth beyond pre-pandemic levels.
• In 2019, before the pandemic, the airport handled 403,800 passengers.
• Traffic fell sharply in 2020 to 241,487 passengers, a 40% drop due to COVID-19 border closures. It rebounded in 2021 to 412,860, surpassing 2019 levels.
• Recovery continued with 436,029 passengers in 2022 and 437,288 in 2023, increasing to 446,218 passengers in 2024.

Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia dominate flights at Broome, mainly on the Perth route.

• Qantas/QantasLink holds the largest share, offering multiple daily flights to Perth on Boeing 737-800 and Embraer E190 aircraft. It also runs seasonal direct flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane during the winter peak.
• Virgin Australia follows with 2-3 daily Boeing 737-800 flights to Perth. Since the pandemic, it has grown its market share through competitive pricing.
• Airnorth plays a smaller role, flying the Broome-Darwin route 3 times per week with Embraer E170 jets. This service is vital for Northern Territory connectivity.

• Broome primarily operates domestic routes across Western Australia and to major cities in other states, with very limited international service.
• International flights have been rare. A Broome-Singapore route operated briefly with SilkAir charters (2018–2019) and a short Jetstar Asia seasonal service in mid-2024. Both are now suspended.
• Key domestic destinations include Perth (which handles over 80% of traffic), Darwin and seasonal services to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane during winter.
• Regional connections include Kununurra, Karratha, Port Hedland, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, though these carry small passenger volumes.
• The network supports tourism and fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) resource industry operations.
• About one-third of passengers are from Australia’s eastern states.

• Broome handles modest cargo volumes compared to major airports, with 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes (or 8.8-11 million pounds) of freight per year.
• Most freight travels in the belly of passenger aircraft and includes marine products (pearls and fresh fish), mining equipment, general supplies for Kimberley communities and urgent medical goods.

• As a privately owned airport, Broome does not publish detailed financial reports. However, aeronautical revenue is estimated at A$26–30 million annually based on passenger volumes and standard fees.
• The airport states its aeronautical charges are the 4th lowest among WA/NT regional airports per passenger and account for just 7% of a typical Broome airfare.

• March 3, 1942: A Japanese WWII air raid killed at least 88 people and destroyed more than 20 aircraft in Broome harbour and at the airfield. Wreckage is still visible in Roebuck Bay at low tide.
• December 1974: A BOAC Boeing 707 made an emergency landing due to engine issues. It landed safely, demonstrating the airport’s long-standing ability to handle widebody diversions.
• July 2012: A Kimberley Aviation GA8 Airvan ditched near Cable Beach after engine failure. All 5 occupants survived. The ATSB investigation cited fuel mismanagement.
• February 2018: A helicopter headed offshore made a controlled ditching at sea. All crew were rescued without injury.
• May 14, 2019: A Qantas A330 (Flight QF44) diverted to Broome due to a smoke indication. It landed safely, marking the largest aircraft to land there at the time.