Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (TSV)
Townsville, AU 🇦🇺 Medium Airport Scheduled Service
ICAO
YBTL
IATA
TSV
Elevation
18 ft
Region
AU-QLD
Local Time
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Loading...Airport Information
GPS Code: YBTL
Local Code: Not available
Location: -19.252904° N, 146.766512° E
Continent: Oceania
Type: Medium Airport
Keywords: RAAF Base Garbutt RAAF Base Townsville
What Travelers Say
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Online Reviews Summary
Townsville Airport (YBTL/TSV) generally receives mixed but often positive reviews, with travelers appreciating its efficiency as a regional airport, especially when not experiencing peak traffic. While many find it a straightforward and pleasant experience, some common complaints emerge regarding facilities and staffing.
What Travelers Love
- Cleanliness and Maintenance: Reviewers consistently praise the airport's cleanliness and well-maintained facilities, including restrooms.
- Efficient Processing (often): For a regional airport, many travelers find check-in and security procedures to be smooth and efficient, particularly during non-peak hours. Some specifically highlight positive experiences with security staff.
- Air Bridges: The presence of air bridges (jet bridges) for boarding is often noted as a pleasant surprise for an airport of its size.
- Easy Access and Connectivity: The airport is located close to the city center (around 10 minutes) with easy car access and good connections to major cities like Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
- External Parking Options: Third-party parking and transfer services are highly recommended for being more affordable and offering excellent service including drop-off and pick-up at the terminal.
Common Complaints
- Limited Food and Retail Options: A recurring complaint is the lack of diverse food and shopping choices, particularly past security, with some finding available options basic and expensive.
- Aggressive or "Officious" Security Staff: Several recent reviews describe security staff as aggressive, overzealous, or officious, with instances of shouting at passengers and unnecessary re-screening of bags.
- Insufficient Seating at Gates: Travelers often report a shortage of seating at the gates, especially for larger flights, leading to crowding in departure areas.
- Crowding and Lack of Passenger Segregation: During busy periods, the terminal can feel crowded, and some note a lack of clear segregation between arriving and departing passengers, which can slow down movement.
- Airport Parking Issues: While convenient, the official airport parking can be expensive, and some travelers have reported minor damage to their vehicles, suggesting a lack of security or tight spaces.
Overall, Townsville Airport is seen as a functional regional hub that has undergone recent upgrades. However, travelers should be prepared for potentially limited amenities and be aware of varying experiences with security, especially if traveling during peak times. Planning for alternative parking and allowing extra time for security are advisable.
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Current Weather Conditions
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Airport Routes
Townsville Airport / RAAF Base Townsville (TSV) offers 25 flight routes operated by 10 airlines. Major carriers include Hinterland Aviation, Alliance Airlines, Qantas and others. Popular destinations from Townsville include Cairns Int'l, Brisbane, Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Sydney.
Route Network Map
Top Routes (by observations)
Newly Discovered
- Palm Island (PMK) new
- Cairns Int'l (CNS) new
- Trepell (TQP) new
- Mount Isa (ISA) new
- Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) new
- Brisbane (BNE) new
- Mackay (MKY) new
- Sydney (SYD) new
- Hughenden (HGD) new
- Cloncurry (CNJ) new
- The Monument (PHQ) new
- Darwin Int'l / RAAF (DRW) new
Popular Flight Routes
| Destination | IATA | City | Aircraft Type | Airline | Details | Route Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Top Airlines
Operating at Townsville Airport / RAAF Base TownsvilleAirlines by Flight Activity
Based on observed flight operations and route network| Airline | Routes | Flights | Destinations | Last Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hinterland Aviation
HND
/ OI
|
1 | 188 | 1 | Feb 1, 2026 |
|
Alliance Airlines
UTY
/ QQ
|
6 | 159 | 6 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Qantas
QFA
/ QF
|
5 | 121 | 5 | Feb 1, 2026 |
|
QantasLink
QLK
/ QQ
|
1 | 114 | 1 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Virgin Australia
VOZ
/ VA
|
1 | 110 | 1 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Jetstar
JST
/ JQ
|
3 | 104 | 3 | Feb 1, 2026 |
|
QantasLink
QLK
|
3 | 85 | 3 | Feb 1, 2026 |
|
Regional Express Airlines
RXA
/ ZL
|
3 | 27 | 3 | Jan 29, 2026 |
|
Skytrans
SKP
/ QN
|
1 | 8 | 1 | Dec 3, 2025 |
|
Airnorth Regional
ANO
/ TL
|
1 | 1 | 1 | Nov 26, 2025 |
For Pilots
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
01/19 |
7999 ft | 148 ft | ASP | Active Lighted |
07/25 |
3609 ft | 98 ft | ASP | Active Lighted |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| A/D | APP/DEP | 126.8 MHz |
| ATIS | ATIS | 133.5 MHz |
| CLD | CLNC DEL | 128.1 MHz |
| CTAF | CTAF | 118.3 MHz |
| FSS | BRISBANE CNTR | 120.55 MHz |
| GND | GND | 121.8 MHz |
| OPS | RAAF AIR OPS | 897.4 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 118.3 MHz |
Ground Transportation
Taxis
A dedicated, sheltered taxi rank is located directly in front of the arrivals hall. Taxis are available to meet all arriving flights and provide metered service to Townsville and surrounding areas. The primary provider is 13cabs.
Rental Cars
Several major car rental companies have service desks located inside the arrivals area of the terminal. Options include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, and Thrifty. Pre-booking is highly recommended, especially during peak travel periods.
Public Transportation
The primary public transit option is the Con-x-ion Airport Shuttle. This service provides door-to-door transfers to hotels and addresses throughout Townsville, Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal, and other key locations. Pre-booking is required. There is no regular public bus route (Kinetic/Sunbus) that directly services the airport terminal.