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Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport

Coordinates: 12°11′19″S 096°49′50″E / 12.18861°S 96.83056°E / -12.18861; 96.83056
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Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport

Lapangan Terbang Pulu Koko
Aerial view in the direction of Runway 33
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorToll Remote Logistics
LocationWest Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Elevation AMSL10 ft / 3 m
Coordinates12°11′19″S 096°49′50″E / 12.18861°S 96.83056°E / -12.18861; 96.83056
Websitecocosislandairport.com.au
Map
CCK is located in Indian Ocean
CCK
CCK
Location on a map of the Indian Ocean
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
15/33 2,441 8,009 Asphalt
Statistics (2010/11[a 1])
Passengers15,712
Aircraft movements303
Sources: Australian AIP and aerodrome chart[1]
Passenger and aircraft movements from the BITRE[2]
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Airbus A320 taxiing at Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport (2017)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport (Cocos Islands Malay: Lapangan Terbang Pulu Koko (Keeling)) (IATA: CCK, ICAO: YPCC) is an airport serving the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, a territory of Australia located in the Indian Ocean. The airport is on West Island, one of the South Keeling Islands and capital of the territory.

History

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British Liberator takes off to bomb Japanese airfields in Sumatra

The airfield was built during World War II to support Allied aircraft in the war against Japan. Two airstrips were built, and three bomber squadrons were moved to the islands to conduct raids against Japanese targets in Southeast Asia and to provide support during the planned re-invasion of Malaya and reconquest of Singapore. The first aircraft to arrive were Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIIIs of No. 136 Squadron RAF.[3] They included some B-24 Liberator bombers from No. 321 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF (members of exiled Dutch forces serving with the Royal Air Force), which were also stationed on the islands.

South African Airways aircraft operated between Johannesburg and Perth refuelled at this airport en-route before 1970.

The 2016 Australian Defence White Paper stated that the airfield would be upgraded to support the RAAF's P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.[4] Work was scheduled to begin in early 2023 and completed by 2026, though the costs of the upgrade had increased significantly. It is planned that the airfield will act as a forward operating base for Australian surveillance and electronic warfare aircraft in the region.[5][6]

Facilities

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The airport has one runway, designated 15/33, with an asphalt surface measuring 2,441 m × 45 m (8,009 ft × 148 ft) and an elevation of 10 ft (3 m) above sea level.[1]

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
Toll Global Express Christmas Island, Perth
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines Christmas Island, Perth

Statistics

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Cocos Island Airport served 14,896 revenue passengers during financial year 2017–2018.[a 1][2]

Annual passenger and aircraft statistics for Cocos Island Airport[2]
Year[a 1] Revenue passengers Aircraft movements
2001–02
4,740
218
2002–03
4,328
212
2003–04
4,976
218
2004–05
5,631
226
2005–06
5,632
224
2006–07
6,501
232
2007–08
6,510
320
2008–09
5,611
238
2009–10
9,129
302
2010–11
15,712
303
2011–12
7,957
277
2012–13
14,478
454
2013–14
8,664
398
2014–15
11,323
360
2015–16
17,659
308
2016–17
16,387
345
2017–18
14,896
260

See also

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References

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c Fiscal year 1 July – 30 June

Notes

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  1. ^ a b YPCC – Cocos (Keeling) Island (PDF). AIP En Route Supplement from Airservices Australia, effective 13 June 2024, Aeronautical Chart Archived 10 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c "Airport Traffic Data 1985–86 to 2010–11". Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE). May 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012. Refers to "Regular Public Transport (RPT) operations only"
  3. ^ Fail, J.E.H. "FORWARD STRATEGIC AIR BASE COCOS ISLAND". rquirk.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  4. ^ "2016 Defence White Paper (para. 4.66)" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  5. ^ "$384m cost blowout on ADF plan to upgrade airstrip, boost military presence on Cocos (Keeling) Islands". ABC. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  6. ^ Layton, Peter (29 June 2023). "Australian Defence's Forgotten Indian Ocean Territories". Griffith Asia Insights. Retrieved 19 August 2023.

Further reading

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  • McGrath, Tony (2019). In Tropical Skies: A History of Aviation to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Carlisle, WA: Hesperian Press. ISBN 9780859057561.
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