I just flew into and out of my 293rd airport: ISA which serves the remote Australian outback town of Mt Isa.
I travelled from Brisbane about two hours on Qantas) and back with Virgin Australia. The landing and take off gave excellent views of the town!
There are also hops from Mt Isa to Cairns, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, and Longreach—some flights so short that by the time you fasten your seatbelt, you’re already preparing to land (16 minutes to Cloncurry). Classic outback flying!
When Qantas, the Australian flag carrier flew its first passenger, it was from Longreach to Cloncurry on November 2 1922. It cost 11 pounds 2 shillings. The original Qantas Hangar is still in use at Cloncurry airport with “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service” is still shown above its door.
To better serve the booming mining operations, the aerodrome was located to its present site in 1950. The terminal was built in 1969 and updated a few times. Its a small and busy place.
Flying in and out gave some great views of the outback, and Mount Isa (population 19,000 and falling).
If you look closely at this map, you should be able to count the international airports easily. Domestic flights across Australia, China, Thailand, the UK and USA are extra!
So for my 300th airport, let’s make a game of it: which airport, city or nation will it be? Ask me 20questions (yes/no questions) and see if you can guess airport300 !
How about ACV?