Canberra Airport (CBR) is the airport for Australia's capital. It lies in the Majura district of North Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, about 8 km from the Canberra city centre, and the Rapid 3 bus reaches the City in under 20 minutes. The airport is run by Capital Airport Group. Domestic and international flights share one terminal building: the Domestic terminal gates are on Level 2, and the International terminal departures lounge sits one floor above on Level 3.

That shared building makes CBR easy to use, whether you are flying to Sydney for the day or heading overseas. This guide covers how the two sides of the terminal work, which airlines fly where, the bus and other ways into the city, parking, opening hours, facilities and a few tips for the day you travel.

Terminals and airlines at Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport talks about a domestic terminal and an international terminal, but both are in the same building. Every passenger checks in on Level 2 and goes through the domestic security screening point in the centre of that level. Domestic travellers then head to their gate on Level 2. International travellers turn left and take the escalator up to Level 3, where international security screening and the International Departures Lounge are. Airline arrangements can change, so check the details on your e-ticket before you go.

Domestic terminal

All domestic departure gates are on Level 2. Check-in is split by airline: Qantas and Jetstar are to the right as you enter, while Virgin Australia, Link Airways and FlyPelican are to the left. The operator's airline directory lists these domestic carriers:

• Qantas
• Jetstar
• Virgin Australia
• Link Airways
• FlyPelican

International terminal

International flights depart from the International Departures Lounge on Level 3. Canberra's international routes include Doha with Qatar Airways, Nadi with Fiji Airways and Bali with Virgin Australia. These airlines use the international side of the building:

• Qatar Airways
• Fiji Airways
• Virgin Australia (international flights)

Virgin Australia appears on both lists, because it flies domestic routes from Level 2 and international flights from Level 3. Your e-ticket shows which applies to your booking.

Moving between the domestic and international areas

There is no transfer bus or train to worry about at Canberra Airport. The international area is upstairs in the same building, reached by escalator from Level 2 after domestic security. If you are connecting from a domestic flight to an international one, allow time for international security screening on Level 3 and for any bag recheck your airline requires.

Getting to and from Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport is close to the city, and the main options all leave from the ground floor near the Arrivals Hall. Fares are set by each operator and shown at the stop, at the rank or in the operator's app.

Rapid 3 bus

Transport Canberra's Rapid 3 bus is the public transport link. It stops kerbside on the ground floor of the terminal, and a ticket vending machine is next to baggage claim. The trip to the City interchange takes under 20 minutes, and the route continues to Belconnen and Spence, which helps if you are staying north-west of the centre.

Taxi

The taxi rank is undercover on the ground floor, near the baggage carousels in the Arrivals Hall. There is an indoor waiting area, so you are not left standing outside. A taxi is the easiest option when you are carrying a lot of luggage or arriving late.

Rideshare

DiDi, Ola, Shebah and Uber pick up from the Express Pick-Up Car Park. It is on the ground floor of an indoor car park, a short covered walk from the Arrivals Hall, and it has a waiting lounge for passengers. Book your ride once you have your bags.

Car rental

Rental desks at the airport include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot, Sixt and Thrifty. Booking ahead lets you compare companies and pick up the car soon after you land.

Snowfields shuttle

Snowy Mountain Shuttles runs pre-booked transfers from the airport to the NSW snowfields. Book before you fly, as this is not a turn-up service.

Parking at Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport has several car parks, and which one suits you depends on how long you are leaving the car:

• Blue and Green multi-level indoor car parks, with direct access to the arrivals and departures levels
• Red and Yellow outdoor car parks, a few minutes from the terminal
• Express parking next to the Arrivals Hall, designed for picking people up

You can prebook a space, which is worth doing for a longer trip. The car parks close 30 minutes after the last flight arrives and reopen at 4am. Rates vary by car park and length of stay, so check the airport's parking pages before you go.

Opening hours at Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport is not open around the clock. The airport opens daily at 5am, ahead of the first departures. The car parks open earlier, at 4am, and close 30 minutes after the last flight lands. The operator does not publish a single closing time for the terminal, because it depends on the last arrival of the day.

In practice, that means you cannot wait inside the building overnight. If you land on the last flight of the evening, have your onward transport sorted before you arrive.

Facilities at Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport packs a good range of facilities into one building. Here is what you will find, starting with the questions travellers ask most.

Shopping and duty free

The duty-free store is in the International Departures Lounge on Level 3, and it opens before international departures. On the Level 2 concourse, there are retail outlets, a newsagency and a book shop for domestic travellers.

Terminal layout

The building is laid out over three levels. Arrivals and baggage claim are on the ground floor. Check-in, domestic security and all the domestic departure gates are on Level 2. The International Departures Lounge is on Level 3. International arrivals clear border control on the ground floor and come out next to arrivals Gate A.

Lounges

The International Departures Lounge on Level 3 is the waiting area for overseas flights, and it is open to the public. It has business and relaxation lounges and private meeting rooms. A Virgin Australia lounge is reached by the same escalators after security, for eligible passengers.

Food and drink

Cafes, restaurants and a bar line the Level 2 departures concourse. The International Departures Lounge also has food and drinks, so international travellers do not need to eat before heading upstairs.

Currency exchange and ATMs

Travelex self-serve foreign currency ATMs are available 24 hours. There is one in the ground-floor arrivals hall and two in the Level 2 departures hall.

Free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi hotspots cover Level 2 Departures and the Level 3 International Departures Lounge.

Accessibility and assistance

Lifts and escalators run throughout the building. Hearing loops are at the gates, the carousels, check-in and retail areas, and there are accessible toilets, tactile ground surfaces and captioned TVs. The boarding bridges have lifts. Special assistance and kerbside pick-up can be arranged ahead with customer service, and free baggage trolleys are kerbside at departures and in the arrivals hall.

Tips for departing and arriving at Canberra Airport

Canberra Airport does not set a fixed arrival time. The operator advises arriving early enough for check-in and security screening, and your airline's check-in times are the ones to follow. For an international flight, remember there is a second security check on Level 3, so leave extra time.

If your flight is one of the first of the day, the terminal opens at 5am and the car parks at 4am. Plan to arrive after those times rather than before. Domestic travellers check in on Level 2 and pass security in the centre of that level. International travellers then take the escalator up for international screening.

Arriving from overseas, you clear border control on the ground floor. Entry requirements for Australia are set by the government, so check the official guidance for your passport before you travel. For live departure and arrival information on the day, use the Traveloka flight status page.

Flights and flight schedule from Canberra Airport

Use this page to plan your next trip out of CBR. The fare cards show fares from Canberra to popular destinations, which makes it easy to compare a few options side by side. Further down, the schedule tables set out upcoming Canberra Airport departures and arrivals day by day, naming the airline and the scheduled departure and arrival times. They are a selection of flights, not a full timetable.

Pick a route, compare airlines and times for your dates, and book the one that fits your day. If you would rather wait for a better fare, set a Price Alert and Traveloka will let you know when it moves. Your e-ticket arrives by email and is stored in the app.

Popular routes from Canberra Airport include:

• Canberra to Sydney flights
• Canberra to Melbourne flights
• Canberra to Brisbane flights
• Canberra to Perth flights
• Canberra to Adelaide flights
• Canberra to Gold Coast flights
• Canberra to Bali flights

Whether it is a work trip interstate or a holiday overseas, compare flights from Canberra Airport on Traveloka and book with confidence.