Darwin International Airport — Local services in Eaton

Biggest Airport in NT

Darwin International Airport (IATA: DRW, ICAO: YPDN) is the busiest airport serving the Northern Territory and the tenth busiest airport in Australia. It is the only airport serving Darwin. The airport is located in Darwin, Northern Territory's northern suburbs, 8 km (5.0 mi) from the Darwin city centre, in the suburb of Eaton. It shares runways with the Royal Australian Air Force's RAAF Base Darwin. Darwin Airport has an international terminal, a domestic terminal and a cargo terminal. Both of the passenger terminals have a number of shops and cafeterias. In 2011 the airport served 26,036 flights and 1,743,734 passengers. In 1919, when the England to Australia air race was announced, Parap Airfield was established in the suburb of Parap to act as the Australian terminal. It operated as two airports, a civilian airport and a military field. It frequently took hits from Japanese bombing through the Second World War, and was used by the Allies to project air power into the Pacific. The airport hosted Spitfires, Hudson Bombers, Kittyhawks, C-47s, B-24 Liberators, B-17 Fortresses and PBY Catalinas. In 1945 the Department of Aviation made the existing Darwin military airfield available for civil aviation purposes. As a result, the civilian airport at Parap was closed down and airport operations combined with the military airport. Between 1950 and 1974 Darwin Airport acted as the primary domestic and international airport for the Northern Territory and an important stop for airlines flying between Australia and Asia and onwards to Europe. UTA, BOAC, Alitalia and Air India were some airlines that had scheduled services to Darwin. However the introduction of longer range aircraft in the 1970s meant that many airlines did not need to stop over in Darwin, and chose to cease services. Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin in 1974 and flattened the city. The airport was used to ferry 25,628 people out of Darwin. Darwin Airport was extensively used to assist UN operations in East Timor from 1999, and to support medical evacuations following the 2002...

Small and clean airport. Unfortunately very badly organised and extremely expensive short time parking (10 Minutes to drop of somebody and help with luggage = 12 AU$). At Baggage drop, we asked about GST refund procedure (had bought a didgeridoo and some paintings) and were told, no problem, put everything in check in luggage, especially the bulky didgeridoo can not be taken as cabin item, and then collect GST refund after security check at the gate. At the GST office we first had to wait for very long time until a slightly annoyed officer showed up after we and other passengers asked multiple time for somebody to attend. Then we were asked to show the goods we wanted to export - they are in the check in luggage, as advised by the baggage drop personnel and confirmed by the bulk item personnel. Well, of course we did not get any refund as we should first have brought our luggage (through two security checkpoints - wonder how we should have done that) to the gate and then apparently gone back to the baggage drop before security. Security check was another issue. They checked my boarding pass, so knew I and family were flying international. We were told they have new scanner, no need to remove laptops or batteries. Nice and quick security check (only issue, the shoes of my son had to be re-scanned and got forgotten. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes for an office to notice, but they apologized). After security check we therefore we each bought a bottle of water. When boarding time approached we went to the gate - but what's that? Another security check just at the gate? I mentioned we already got checked and then bought water, like in other airport - nothing to do, they did not want to accept the first security check - we had to ditch all our liquids and get through security again. And they had the old scanner - remove laptops, show all lithium batteries - getting patted down. WHY? Is one check not good enough? Especially when performed with the new quick machines and...

Totally agree with the review Nandan W wrote: be very vigilant at security screening area. I didn't have money stolen but expensive lightweight hiking gears. These people involved in thiefing from travelers know exactly what they were looking for and cooperate in a team to distract and stell from travelers who have things they want. My carry-ons were given special attention during security screening: the guy fiddled around with both bags, looked the items and then decided one of the bags where my expensive lightweight windshield and waterproof groundsheet (which packed into palm-size) are in need of going through the screening conveyor belt again. I waited and waited at the inside end. My flight back to Perth was doing its final boarding call and my bag finally came through the conveyor belt, zipped up properly. I didn't think to check inside as I haven't lost any luggage at any airports' security check before (I traveled many countries and cities in Australia). I only discovered that my windshield was missing when I needed it after landing in Perth's 8 degree night! In the pocket of my windshield are my house key and a very compact 1st aid tool pack. Tidying up my gears next-day, I found my lightweight waterproof groundsheet was missing too. Calling Darwin airport all I get is voice message saying to email them. My email to the address given gets no...