Learmonth Airport (LEA) Statistics — Passengers, Flights & Trends

Published 15 July 2026

Learmonth Airport (LEA) is the main commercial airport serving Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef region in remote northwestern Western Australia. It shares its location with RAAF Base Learmonth and plays a key role in regional connectivity and tourism access.

How many passengers pass through Learmonth Airport each year?

Learmonth Airport handles over 100,000 passengers annually.

The airport served 110,498 passengers in 2025, setting a new all-time record and continuing the region’s tourism growth.
In 2019, before the pandemic, the airport handled 84,685 passengers.
Passenger numbers dropped in 2020 to 57,361, a 32.3% decline.
Traffic rebounded in 2021 to 93,750, followed by 96,954 in 2022.
Passenger volumes further increased to 104,130 in 2023 and 106,847 in 2024.

Bar chart of annual passenger volume at Learmonth Airport from 2017 to 2025, dipping to 57.4K in 2020 then rising to a record 110.5K in 2025. — Annual passenger volume at Learmonth Airport, 2017–2025.

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

Learmonth Airport typically sees 1,000 to 1,300 regular public transport (RPT) aircraft movements per year.

In 2025, there were 1,217 RPT operations, a 6% increase from 1,148 operations in 2024.
2019 recorded 1,266 movements prior to the pandemic.
2020 saw operations fall to 917, the lowest during the pandemic.
Numbers fluctuated during the recovery period with 1,120 in 2021, 1,007 in 2022 and 1,051 in 2023.

Bar chart of annual RPT aircraft operations at Learmonth Airport from 2017 to 2025, falling to 917 in 2020 and recovering to 1,217 in 2025. — Annual aircraft operations at Learmonth Airport, 2017–2025 (regular public transport only).

Which airlines operate the most flights out of Learmonth Airport?

Qantas Group, operating as QantasLink, is the sole carrier at Learmonth Airport since Virgin Australia's exit in October 2014.

QantasLink holds 100% of the scheduled RPT passenger market.

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

Learmonth Airport shows a clear seasonal pattern in passenger traffic, with demand rising sharply from autumn and peaking during the cooler winter months.

July was the peak month, with approximately 12,500 passengers in 2025, followed by June at 12,100 and May at 11,500.
April recorded around 11,100 passenger movements.
August remained elevated at about 11,000 passengers, showing continued winter-season travel demand.
February was the quietest month of the year at 5,500 passengers.

Bar chart of monthly passenger traffic at Learmonth Airport in 2025, peaking at 12.5K in July and lowest at 5.5K in February. — Monthly passenger traffic at Learmonth Airport, 2025.

Which destinations are the most popular from Learmonth Airport?

Perth, WA (PER) is the primary and nearly exclusive destination from Learmonth Airport.

It accounts for almost 100% of passenger traffic.

How much cargo does Learmonth Airport handle annually?

Learmonth handles minimal cargo, with freight moved in passenger aircraft belly holds or small charters.

All cargo is 100% domestic, including mail, medical supplies, small parcels and urgent freight for Exmouth.
Due to low volume, Learmonth is not ranked among Australia’s major cargo airports by BITRE.

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

Tropical cyclones and wet season storms (December to March) can cause cancellations or diversions, though the area’s dry climate limits disruptions.
Mechanical issues at Learmonth or Perth can delay or cancel the single daily flight during off-peak periods.
Crew scheduling or aircraft rotations in Perth sometimes affect services at Learmonth, especially when a single aircraft operates multiple legs.
RAAF exercises can occasionally impact civil flights, as the airport shares operations with the military base.
Overall, disruptions are minimal due to low traffic, favorable weather and point-to-point operations.

What are the notable incidents at Learmonth Airport?October 7, 2008: Qantas Flight 72, an Airbus A330 flying from Singapore to Perth, made an emergency landing at Learmonth after a serious computer malfunction caused sudden altitude drops. 119 people were injured but there were no fatalities. The event led to Airbus system changes and is considered a major aviation safety incident in Australia.

References

Australian Airports Traffic Data · bitre.gov.au
ATSB preliminary factual report — flight upset, Qantas Airbus A330, 154 km west of Learmonth · atsb.gov.au