Qantas has issued a travel update advising that Cloncurry Airport (CNJ) in north-west Queensland is closed from 2 January to 8 January 2026 to allow urgent runway works. During the six-day shutdown, all QantasLink services are suspended.
To maintain essential connectivity for the resources sector and remote communities, the carrier is providing complimentary bus transfers between Cloncurry and Mount Isa Airport (ISA), 120 km away. Passengers who choose to make their own way can contact Qantas to re-route or refund without penalty.
![Qantas closes Cloncurry Airport until 8 January, offers bus links to Mount Isa]()
For international passengers who may now find themselves transiting through Mount Isa instead of Cloncurry, making sure visa documentation is up to date is essential. VisaHQ’s streamlined portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) can arrange or extend Australian visas online in a matter of minutes, offering mining companies and individual travelers alike a hassle-free way to stay compliant during the temporary airport closure.
Cloncurry sits on key FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) corridors that support copper and phosphate mining projects. Mobility managers for mining contractors have been instructed to revise crew change rosters and factor in the two-hour road transfer each way, adding up to four hours to duty days. Travel buyers should also check hotel availability in Mount Isa, which is already under pressure from New Year tourism demand.
The airline says normal operations will resume on Friday 9 January subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority approval of the completed works. Travellers are urged to monitor the Qantas App or flight-status page for real-time updates.
To maintain essential connectivity for the resources sector and remote communities, the carrier is providing complimentary bus transfers between Cloncurry and Mount Isa Airport (ISA), 120 km away. Passengers who choose to make their own way can contact Qantas to re-route or refund without penalty.
For international passengers who may now find themselves transiting through Mount Isa instead of Cloncurry, making sure visa documentation is up to date is essential. VisaHQ’s streamlined portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) can arrange or extend Australian visas online in a matter of minutes, offering mining companies and individual travelers alike a hassle-free way to stay compliant during the temporary airport closure.
Cloncurry sits on key FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) corridors that support copper and phosphate mining projects. Mobility managers for mining contractors have been instructed to revise crew change rosters and factor in the two-hour road transfer each way, adding up to four hours to duty days. Travel buyers should also check hotel availability in Mount Isa, which is already under pressure from New Year tourism demand.
The airline says normal operations will resume on Friday 9 January subject to Civil Aviation Safety Authority approval of the completed works. Travellers are urged to monitor the Qantas App or flight-status page for real-time updates.
