Canberra Airport Statistics

Published 15 July 2026 · Updated 8 Sept 2026

Canberra Airport (IATA: CBR, ICAO: YSCB) serves Australia's capital city in the Australian Capital Territory. It functions as a key mid-sized international airport, connecting the nation's political center to major domestic cities and selected international destinations through commercial airline services.

How many passengers pass through Canberra Airport each year?

Canberra Airport handles approximately 2.7-3.2 million passengers annually, making it Australia's eighth-busiest airport.

The airport served 2.79 million passengers in 2025, maintaining its position as the eighth-busiest airport in Australia.
In 2019, it handled 3.24 million passengers before the pandemic, representing high pre-COVID levels just below the 2018 peak.
Passenger traffic dropped sharply to 908,990 in 2020 (a 72% decline) during peak COVID-19 restrictions and border closures.
Recovery began in 2021 with 1.02 million passengers, though still heavily impacted by ongoing restrictions.
The rebound accelerated from 2022, with 2.44 million passengers, then 2.77 million in 2023, and 2.83 million in 2024, reaching approximately 87% of 2019 levels.

Bar chart of annual passenger volume at Canberra Airport showing a sharp COVID drop in 2020 and partial recovery by 2025. — Annual passenger numbers at Canberra Airport, 2017–2025.

What is the total number of aircraft operations at Canberra Airport each year?

Canberra Airport sees approximately 35,000–40,000 regular public transport (RPT) aircraft takeoffs and landings annually, referring to scheduled commercial airline operations.

In 2025, there were 36,967 RPT aircraft movements, representing a 1.9% decrease from 37,694 movements in 2024.
In 2019, there were 40,081 RPT movements, the pre-COVID peak.
Operations dropped in 2020 to 13,409 (a 67% decline) due to the pandemic's early impact on travel.
A slow recovery began in 2021 and 2022 with 17,934 and 35,916 RPT movements respectively, as domestic borders reopened.
Operations peaked again in 2023 with 40,165 movements, slightly surpassing 2019 levels due to overscheduling during the recovery phase.

Bar chart of annual Regular Public Transport aircraft operations at Canberra Airport showing a 2020 collapse and rebound to around 37,000. — Annual RPT aircraft operations at Canberra Airport, 2017–2025.

What are the monthly trends in passenger traffic at Canberra Airport?

Canberra Airport shows clear seasonal trends influenced by parliamentary sitting weeks, government travel, major events and school holidays.

October 2025 was the busiest month with 259,079, supported by the Floriade Festival, parliamentary activity and school holidays.
November followed with 256,480 passengers, driven by active parliamentary sessions, events and early summer travel.
August and September maintained strong numbers with 245,635 and 244,006 passengers, reflecting consistent late-winter and early-spring demand.
January was the slowest month with 195,607 passengers, a result of the summer parliamentary recess and reduced government travel.

Bar chart of monthly passenger traffic at Canberra Airport in 2025, lowest in January and peaking in October. — Monthly passenger traffic at Canberra Airport in 2025.

How many routes are there at Canberra Airport?

The airport offers regular direct domestic routes to all Australian state capitals, with the highest-frequency services to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

International routes are limited but growing.
Fiji Airways operates twice weekly to Nadi.
Singapore Airlines’ suspended service is expected to return in coming years.
Perth, Darwin, Hobart, Newcastle and other regional destinations have seasonal or limited direct service, typically 1-4 times weekly based on demand.

Which destinations are the most popular from Canberra Airport?

Melbourne (MEL) was the busiest route in 2025 with 979,092 passengers.
Sydney (SYD) followed with 610,685.
Gold Coast (OOL) saw 177,857 passengers.

Horizontal bar chart of top destinations from Canberra Airport in 2025, led by Melbourne, then Sydney and Gold Coast. — Busiest destinations from Canberra Airport by passengers, 2025.

How much cargo does Canberra Airport handle annually?

Canberra Airport handles modest air cargo, mostly in the belly holds of passenger aircraft rather than dedicated freighters.

Cargo includes Australia Post mail for federal agencies, express parcels, pharmaceuticals, electronics and diplomatic items.
There are no scheduled freighter services or dedicated cargo carriers.
Freight is processed through integrated handling areas within the passenger terminal rather than a specialized cargo facility.

How many cancellations occur at Canberra Airport annually?

Flight cancellations vary but have generally improved since the disruption seen in 2022 and 2023.

About 2.5-3.5% of flights are cancelled each year under current conditions.
In 2022, cancellations peaked at around 4.4% due to staff shortages, airline disruptions and weather.
Before the pandemic, rates were typically 1-2%, reflecting standard reliability when airline operations were stable.

What are the main causes of flight disruptions at Canberra Airport?

Delays at Sydney and Melbourne airports are the primary source of disruptions, affecting flights to and from Canberra due to shared aircraft rotations.
Airline operational issues such as crew shortages, maintenance delays and limited aircraft availability were significant factors between 2022 and 2024.
Weather impacts at Canberra are limited, though morning fog, strong winds and occasional snow may cause minor disruptions. The 2018 installation of CAT III ILS has reduced fog-related delays.
The Canberra–Sydney route had the highest cancellation rate in Australia during FY2024–25 at 5.7%.
Limited aircraft flexibility means a delayed inbound flight can disrupt multiple departures.
The airport’s infrastructure is not a common cause of delays. It operates 24/7 with no curfew, has adequate runway capacity and modern navigation systems, making it one of the most operationally efficient airports in Australia.

What are the notable incidents at Canberra Airport?

August 13, 1940: Canberra Air Disaster (Fairbairn) – A RAAF Lockheed Hudson crashed on approach in poor weather, killing ten people including the Chief of the General Staff and three federal ministers. This remains the worst aviation accident in Canberra's history.
August 14, 2022: Terminal Shooting – A lone gunman fired shots inside the check-in area. No one was injured. The terminal was evacuated for about three hours. The perpetrator was arrested and later convicted.
November 10, 2022: QantasLink Cabin Smoke Event – A Saab 340B experienced cabin smoke during pre-departure. Passengers evacuated safely, with 1–3 sustaining minor injuries. The cause was traced to an air conditioning fault.

References

Australian Airports Traffic Data · bitre.gov.au
Incident at Merimbula Airport · atsb.gov.au