Broome Airport Mini Guide
Broome Airport
Broome Airport in Western Australia serves as the gateway to the Kimberly region and comes in at number twenty in the list of Australia’s busiest airports and is a proud number four in size, a far cry from its humble beginnings. It began life in 1922 when Broome Airport referred to any strip of sand flat enough to land a plane on but by 1935 it had found its present location and gained a covered shed as a terminal.
Of course things are much different now and today’s travellers will find a modern comfortable terminal with all the necessary facilities. Nervous flyers shouldn’t read the next bit however, as since November 2010 Broome Airport became a class D aerodrome, roughly translated that means that they don’t use radar to land the planes, instead, all approaches are done in true old fashioned style. Planes are guided down by real live humans in the form of (highly qualified and experienced) air traffic controllers.
Getting There
Apart from the obvious and arriving by plane, bus is probably the best way to get to Broome Airport as it is serviced by a regular bus service in addition to several shuttle buses that stop at most of the hotels and inns in the area. Taxi services are also widely available.
While You’re Waiting
Make sure to check out Nakamura’s Bar which gets its name from the young Japanese pearl diver who was the inspiration for the song “Sayonara Nakamura”. Located right between the departures and arrival terminals and accessible from both, Nakamura’s offers a friendly relaxed atmosphere, a tasty snacks menu and a wide range of both alcoholic drinks and coffees. With mostly local staff it provides a good welcome to the area of Broome and an introduction to the philosophy of “Broome time living”.
Something Different
Art lovers will be pleasantly surprised with a visit to the airport's Pandanas Gift Shop which has a changing collection of work by talented local artists in addition to beautifully handmade soaps, locally sourced pearls from Broome and a good collection of unique gifts all with a personal touch. Don’t fret if you go overboard or worry about getting it home as they will wrap it up and ship it for you anywhere in the world.
Restricted Mobility Access
As with most of the Australian regional airports, Broome Airport unfortunately does not have skywalk facilities. This means that all planes are boarded via stairs. Passengers who use a wheelchair will require assistance and should contact their airline in advance to ensure that both arrival and departure ports are prepared to assist you. Inside the airport terminal all facilities are wheelchair accessible.