Karratha Airport

Karratha Airport
IATA: KTA – ICAO: YPKA
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	City of Karratha
Location	Karratha, Western Australia
Elevation AMSL	32 ft / 10 m
Coordinates	20°42′44″S 116°46′24″E / 20.71222°S 116.77333°E / -20.71222; 116.77333Coordinates: 20°42′44″S 116°46′24″E / 20.71222°S 116.77333°E / -20.71222; 116.77333
Website	http://www.karrathaairport.com.au/
Map
YPKA Location in Western Australia
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 08/26 2,280 7,480 Asphalt
Statistics (2010/11[1])
Passengers 675,207 Aircraftmovements 7,497
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[2] passenger and aircraftmovements from the BITRE[3]

Karratha Airport (IATA: KTA, ICAO: YPKA) is an airport in Karratha, Western Australia. The airport is 14 km (8.7 mi) from Karratha and 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) south^[2] of Dampier. With the beginning of the iron ore industry in the early 1960s, Dampier was chosen as the Port for Hamersley Iron's operations and this signaled the beginning of major development in the Pilbara. Roebourne airport was the nearest airport. In 1966 Hamersley Iron constructed an airport on the present Karratha Airport site with a sealed gravel runway and small terminal building and named it Dampier Airport. With the introduction of the Fokker F-28 jet aircraft by MMA in 1969, regular passenger flights by MMA to the unsealed Roebourne airport were discontinued.

After several years as a private airport, the airport was taken over by the Shire of Roebourne. Several upgrades have been made over the decades including a new runway, 08/26, and new terminals. The old runway is now used as a taxiway. The runway is capable of handling aircraft up to 737-800 size.

Karratha Airport is the second busiest airport in Western Australia that handles commercial fights, with Perth Airport being the busiest and has played a major role in the development of the Pilbara region. In the year ending 30 June 2009^[1] the airport handled 486,582 passengers nearly 100,000 increase over 2008 and was ranked 18th busiest in Australia.^[3] For the year ending June 2010 it had increased to 587,211 passengers and by 2011 it had reached 675,207 passengers. Of these passengers the vast majority are what is known in Australia asfly-in fly-out workers. The airport is now the 17th busiest.^[3][4] Port Hedland International Airport is 240 km (150 mi) northeast of this airport.

Karratha Airport is set to undergo a major revamp following a Council decision to appoint a project builder for the terminal redevelopment project. The $35 million upgrade provides for several major changes within the terminal and will include new cafes, bar, combined arrivals and departure area, new toilet facilities and improved security screening and baggage reclaim. Construction is expected to start in June 2014 and be complete by December 2015.

In the 1960s through to the 80s, MMA was the largest operator serving Karratha. East-West Airlines introduced services in the 1980s to compete with the Ansett group until it was absorbed by Ansett. Aircraft operated into Karratha over the decades include the Fokker F-27, Fokker F-28, BAe 146, Fokker F-100 and the Boeing 737. Bristow Helicopters was also had a base in Karratha.

Airlines and destinations

Operations

Busiest domestic routes into and out of Karratha Airport
(FY 2011^[1])^[6]

Rank	Airport	Passengers carried	% change
1	Western Australia, Perth Airport	615,689	9.0

See also

• List of airports in Western Australia

References

External links

• Arrivals and Departures

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