Cairns may be known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, but for Richard Barker, CEO of North Queensland Airports, it’s becoming something much bigger – a launchpad for regional resilience, aviation sustainability, and a new era in international connectivity.
Fresh off the success of hosting the prestigious CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit in Cairns last week, Barker sees the event as more than just a feather in the city’s cap.
“This conference was a team effort. We worked closely with the convention centre, TTNQ, and our own airport team to pitch the idea,” says Barker. “For us, it’s about putting Cairns on the map at a global aviation level and making sure we’re part of the conversation around sustainability, connectivity, and regional growth.”
SAF: The Fuel of the Future – and a lifeline for the north?
Having spent 20 years in the global oil industry, Barker knows a thing or two about energy infrastructure. That’s why he’s championing Cairns and northern Queensland as a natural Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) hub.
“There’s sugarcane growing five kilometres from the runway. Some farmers are pulling it out, but we’re telling them to hold – we may have a SAF refinery just down the road,” he explains. “JetZero is aiming to have a commercial-scale SAF plant in Townsville by 2028, and we’re actively working with them on feedstock transport and logistics.”
Unlike hydrogen, Barker says SAF doesn’t rely on unproven technology. “This is ready now. The technology’s already in use in the US, and we can make it work here. It addresses national fuel security, supports struggling cane farmers, and opens up real Scope 3 decarbonisation options for aviation.”
The future refinery won’t just produce SAF, it will also generate green diesel to help decarbonise the reef fleet.
“That gives us the chance to offer a low-carbon trip to a World Heritage area. Fly here with SAF, head to the reef on green fuel, and stay in eco-certified hotels. That’s a light-touch carbon experience we can be proud of,” he says.
International Terminal upgrades and the northern hub vision
As international travel returns in force, Cairns is undertaking targeted upgrades to its international terminal, with a focus on both capacity and sustainability.
“We’re creating a terminal that reflects the region – a face for the region that we can be proud of. Our Eastern Aviation Precinct will also support maintenance and emergency services expansion, alongside additional aircraft parking,” Barker says.
But there’s also a broader strategic goal: turning Cairns into a northern gateway.
“With long-range narrowbodies now viable, we can revisit routes that failed with widebodies. Nagoya, for instance. We used to fly there. Now it’s feasible again. Airline execs are starting to understand the logic of the northern hub. VietJet, for example, can reach Cairns but not Brisbane with their current aircraft.”
Jetstar has already added domestic legs out of the international terminal – part of a workaround on bilaterals – and Barker says this added 10,000 seats a month into the market. “That’s the kind of creative solution we need more of.”
Staffing, scanners and up-skilling
Like many airports, Cairns faces operational challenges, but Barker is blunt about what’s needed.
“Border Force has been pretty good here. We’ve avoided some of the absenteeism issues other airports face, but we still need more investment in technology,” he says. “Customers don’t care who funds the scanners, they just want to get through.”
On workforce issues, Barker notes that while backpackers have returned to fill hospitality roles, skilled tourism and aviation labour remains a pain point.
“We need visa reform. A Master Reef Guide may not hit the bureaucratic wage threshold, but they’re absolutely skilled. We’ve got maintenance operators turning down work because they can’t get certified people in,” he says.
Connectivity and the cost of getting there
For Cairns to fulfil its potential, more domestic seats at better prices are key.
“We’re losing international visitors who’d otherwise come up from Sydney or Melbourne because the flights are too expensive,” Barker says. “This week, a one-way flight to Brisbane was $650. That’s more than Shanghai to Sydney.”
Still, he’s optimistic. “Jetstar Asia’s aircraft are coming back. Virgin’s upgauging its Mackay service. We just need more capacity to bring prices down.”
The case for Federal support’
Barker makes no apologies for calling on Canberra to step up.
“The government spends billions on disaster recovery. Why not spend half a billion proactively building SAF infrastructure that creates jobs, decarbonises aviation and boosts regional economies?” he says. “Projects like JetZero in Townsville or Agrisoma in Brisbane aren’t pipe dreams – they’re shovel-ready.”
And he’s got a solution for where the money could come from.
“How about using part of the Passenger Movement Charge to fund scanners and sustainable aviation initiatives? That’s real reinvestment.”
Cairns: Ready for take-off
With the CAPA Summit landing in Cairns and SAF refineries on the horizon, Barker believes the city is ready to lead.
“We’re not just a tourism destination,” he says. “We’re a proving ground for the future of regional aviation. And with the Great Barrier Reef at our doorstep, we have no choice but to get this right for our economy, our environment, and our future.”
Cairns, it seems, isn’t just welcoming passengers, it’s welcoming a new aviation era.
