Western Australia’s Shire of Exmouth has reopened to travellers less than two weeks after Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle ripped through the region. An update posted on 9 April 2026 confirms that Learmonth Airport has resumed Qantas regular-passenger services, operating under a temporary reduced-screening exemption granted by the Department of Home Affairs. Road restrictions into Exmouth were lifted on 8 April, restoring overland links for service technicians and tourists heading to the Ningaloo Reef.
![Learmonth Airport reopens with reduced screening as Exmouth welcomes visitors post-Cyclone Narelle]()
For overseas visitors, securing the right visa is just as crucial as keeping up with post-cyclone travel advisories. VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers a quick, guided way to verify entry requirements and submit applications online, ensuring paperwork is sorted well before you board a re-opened flight to Learmonth.
While the passenger terminal is functional, carry-on items are heavily restricted; travellers may take only phones, wallets and small purses on board, with all other belongings checked as hold luggage to streamline manual inspections. Hotels and tour operators are offering discounted packages to jump-start the visitor economy ahead of school holidays. The Shire has also waived entry fees at the Paltridge Memorial Pool for the weekend of 10-12 April as a goodwill gesture to residents and early visitors. Corporate mobility managers with staff on offshore LNG projects are advised to monitor Learmonth’s capacity constraints; charter flights may face slot rationing until full screening capability is restored. Freight flights carrying critical equipment must coordinate with the airport operations desk due to apron congestion caused by debris-removal works. Authorities continue to warn that the region’s spray park and some marine facilities remain closed pending safety inspections. Travellers should check Main Roads WA and airline alerts for last-minute changes as recovery crews finalise permanent repairs.
For overseas visitors, securing the right visa is just as crucial as keeping up with post-cyclone travel advisories. VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) offers a quick, guided way to verify entry requirements and submit applications online, ensuring paperwork is sorted well before you board a re-opened flight to Learmonth.
While the passenger terminal is functional, carry-on items are heavily restricted; travellers may take only phones, wallets and small purses on board, with all other belongings checked as hold luggage to streamline manual inspections. Hotels and tour operators are offering discounted packages to jump-start the visitor economy ahead of school holidays. The Shire has also waived entry fees at the Paltridge Memorial Pool for the weekend of 10-12 April as a goodwill gesture to residents and early visitors. Corporate mobility managers with staff on offshore LNG projects are advised to monitor Learmonth’s capacity constraints; charter flights may face slot rationing until full screening capability is restored. Freight flights carrying critical equipment must coordinate with the airport operations desk due to apron congestion caused by debris-removal works. Authorities continue to warn that the region’s spray park and some marine facilities remain closed pending safety inspections. Travellers should check Main Roads WA and airline alerts for last-minute changes as recovery crews finalise permanent repairs.
