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Published 15 July 2026 · Updated 8 Sept 2026
Kalgoorlie–Boulder Airport (KGI) is the primary regional airport serving Western Australia's Goldfields region. It connects the area to Perth and supports critical fly-in fly-out (FIFO) operations for the mining sector.
How many passengers pass through Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport each year?
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport handles approximately 360,000 passengers per year.
- The airport served 397,089 passengers in 2025, setting a new annual record.
- In 2019, before the pandemic, it handled 289,736 passengers.
- Passenger traffic dropped to 160,003 in 2020, a 45% decline, then recovered to 255,077 in 2021.
- The rebound continued with 302,825 in 2022, 359,732 in 2023, and 367,616 in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
What is the total number of aircraft operations at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport each year?
Kalgoorlie–Boulder Airport sees over 4,000 commercial RPT flights annually.
- In 2025, there were 4,714 RPT (Regular Public Transport) flights, representing the highest level in recent years and strong post-pandemic recovery.
- Before the pandemic, 2019 saw 4,034 RPT movements.
- Operations dropped to 2,285 in 2020, the lowest during the pandemic.
- Recovery progressed steadily with 3,156 in 2021 and 3,293 in 2022.
- Operations increased further to 3,776 in 2023 and 4,431 in 2024.
Which airlines operate the most flights out of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport?
- Qantas Group, including QantasLink, is the dominant airline at Kalgoorlie–Boulder Airport. Virgin Australia holds the second-largest share, offering regular daily services.
- Charter operators like Alliance Airlines also provide significant FIFO services but are not typically included in RPT statistics.
- Qantas and Virgin together account for virtually 100% of scheduled passenger traffic, highlighting a highly concentrated market focused on the Perth route.
What are the monthly trends in passenger traffic at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport?
Passenger traffic at Kalgoorlie–Boulder Airport was strongest in the second half of 2025, with the top five busiest months all occurring between July and November.
- October recorded the highest volume at approximately 38,900 passengers, followed by August at 36,600 and September at 35,900.
- November and July completed the top five busiest months, with around 35,100 and 34,200 passengers, respectively.
- The quietest months were January at about 26,700 passengers and February at 27,800, indicating a softer start to the year before volumes increased from mid-year onward.
How many routes are there at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport?
Kalgoorlie–Boulder Airport offers only one scheduled domestic route: Perth-Kalgoorlie.
- There are no international routes or customs facilities.
- Charter flights connect to remote mine sites but are not part of regular public service.
Which destinations are the most popular from Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport?
- Perth, WA (PER) is the only scheduled destination, with 396,651 passengers in 2025, accounting for nearly 100% of all traffic.
- The route primarily serves FIFO workers with multiple daily flights operated by both Qantas and Virgin Australia.
How much cargo does Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport handle annually?
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport handles limited cargo volume.
- Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport supports a small regional air-freight function, with freight services provided through operators such as Qantas Freight, Virgin Australia Cargo, StarTrack, TNT and Toll.
- All freight is domestic, primarily urgent mining equipment and parcels flown between Kalgoorlie and Perth.
What are the main causes of flight disruptions at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport?
- Weather conditions, including occasional fog or thunderstorms affecting either Kalgoorlie or Perth.
- Perth airport congestion, causing knock-on delays to Kalgoorlie services.
- Aircraft technical issues, though less common than weather-related disruptions.
- Crew scheduling challenges, particularly during peak FIFO periods.
- Overall, the short route and uncongested KGI airspace result in minimal delays, with average departure delays around 8-10 minutes in 2024.
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What are the notable incidents at Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport?
- January 2025: An ATR-72 prepared for a Kalgoorlie–Perth flight had engine intake covers left installed before engine start; no injuries or damage were reported.
- January 2024: A Raytheon C90A experienced instrument and control issues after departing Kalgoorlie for Warburton and returned safely.
- October 2021: A Qantas Boeing 737 diverted to Kalgoorlie after a fuel imbalance and engine shutdown, landing without incident.
- August 2021: A Cessna 172N local training flight landed at Kalgoorlie with fuel below the required reserve; no injuries or damage occurred.
- January 2018: A Cessna 172M made a forced landing near Kalgoorlie after fuel exhaustion; both occupants were uninjured, with minor aircraft damage.
References
- Australian Airports Traffic Data · bitre.gov.au
- Incident at Merimbula Airport · atsb.gov.au
