Cairns Airport Stunning Fifty-five Million Dollar Overhaul Unveils Torres Strait Island Canoe: A Unique Cultural Gateway For Passengers

Published on November 20, 2025

Cairns Airport has precocious celebrated a important milestone successful its extended $55 cardinal world terminal overhaul pinch nan unveiling of a striking caller installation. A ample canoe, crafted by renowned Torres Strait Island creator Toby Cedar, now hangs suspended from nan mirrored ceiling successful nan refurbished departures lounge. This artwork, a awesome of nan region’s rich | taste heritage, provides a unsocial acquisition for travelers arsenic they embark connected their journeys from Cairns.

A Symbol of Torres Strait Island Culture

The canoe was selected by Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer, Richard Barker, during nan 2023 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. The portion was created by Cedar to service arsenic an acquisition tool, illustrating really his ancestors erstwhile utilized akin vessels for trading and hunting crossed nan islands. The installation has been showcased successful a highly innovative way, reflecting Cedar’s imagination to bring nan humanities and taste value of nan canoe to life successful a modern setting.

The artwork’s unveiling ceremonial was attended by Cedar himself, on pinch section Djabugay Nation members, who welcomed nan portion to its caller location connected Country. The installation of nan canoe successful nan terminal is simply a tribute to nan history and taste practices of nan Torres Strait Islanders and serves arsenic a measurement to stock this bequest pinch nan galore visitors walking done Cairns.

Unique Design: A Reflection of Journey and Adventure

Cedar expressed his amazement astatine nan measurement nan canoe has been displayed astatine Cairns Airport. The mirrored ceiling supra nan canoe allows visitors to position it from aggregate angles, giving them nan opportunity to research nan canoe from nan inside, bottom, and each different perspective. This thoughtful creation prime encourages travelers to prosecute pinch nan artwork successful a measurement that mirrors their ain journey, making nan installation a move portion of nan airdrome experience.

According to Mr. Barker, nan installation plays a important domiciled successful enhancing nan airdrome acquisition for visitors. Cairns Airport’s guidance believes that nan region’s rich | taste practice is 1 of nan superior attractions for world travelers. The canoe not only offers a ocular focal constituent but besides provides an immersive taste acquisition for each who walk done nan terminal. By showcasing this piece, Cairns Airport intends to let travelers to link pinch nan section civilization earlier they moreover time off nan airport.

A Modern, Welcoming Airport Experience

This unveiling is conscionable 1 of galore upgrades that are portion of nan broader $55 cardinal terminal redevelopment, which began successful April 2023. As nan task nears completion, travelers will announcement respective important changes designed to heighten some nan functionality and artistic entreaty of nan terminal.

The terminal overhaul has included nan installation of two large, caller baggage belts, which will thief guarantee passengers tin cod their luggage much quickly and efficiently. The check-in and arrivals areas person besides been revamped, pinch modern furnishings and a fresh, updated look. The departures lounge has undergone a afloat refurbishment, incorporating nan caller Escape Lounges experience, offering travelers a much comfortable and premium area to relax earlier their flight.

Other cardinal improvements see remodelled bathrooms, four caller solid airbridges, which connection passengers beautiful upland views arsenic they arrive, and upgrades to nan arrivals SmartGates system, allowing much businesslike processing for children aged 7 and older. The task has besides brought caller flooring, escalators, and elevators, arsenic good arsenic nan replacement of check-in counters and hire car desks.

Completion Timeline and Future Plans

Construction connected nan terminal is expected to beryllium completed by nan extremity of November 2023, successful clip for nan bustling holiday season. The last shape will besides spot nan preamble of caller unit and eating options, arsenic good arsenic further artwork to further heighten nan space. Travelers tin expect a move and modern environment, pinch thoughtful creation elements that bespeak nan unsocial characteristic and taste richness of nan region.

Additionally, a new covered car park adjacent to nan world terminal is group to unfastened early successful 2024, providing much convenient parking for passengers. As nan vacation play approaches, much than 120,000 passengers are expected to walk done nan world terminal during December and January. The completion of this awesome redevelopment task is perfectly timed to accommodate nan accrued postulation during this highest period.

A New Era for Cairns Airport

Mr. Barker emphasized that nan completion of nan terminal’s building shape represents a important milestone for nan airdrome and nan metropolis of Cairns. The upgraded infrastructure and improved rider accommodation are designed to streamline nan recreation acquisition and supply a welcoming ambiance for visitors from astir nan world.

With this recently revamped terminal, Cairns Airport is not conscionable upgrading its accommodation but is besides providing travelers pinch a deeper relationship to nan section civilization and history. As passengers locomotion done nan terminal, they are invited to embark connected a travel that goes beyond their flight. They are offered nan chance to prosecute pinch nan taste stories and traditions of nan region, each while experiencing nan modern and businesslike situation of nan airport.