Overview
Gudai-Darri Airport is a private airport located 142 km northwest of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and is owned by Rio Tinto. Originally known as “Koodaideri,” the project was renamed “Gudai-Darri” at the request of Banjima Elders to better reflect local Indigenous language and heritage.
Gudai-Darri Airport (YKDD) has been managed by Aerodrome Management Services (AMS) since the airport officially opened in November 2020. AMS maintains a continuous onsite presence with two Aerodrome Managers, who also perform Airport Reporting Officer (ARO) duties on a 7-days-on/7-days-off roster.
In July 2024, Gudai-Darri Airport upgraded to a Low Intensity Runway Lighting (LIRL) system. The LIRL system uses lower-power lighting equipment, reducing electricity consumption while remaining well suited to the airport’s relatively low traffic levels and ensuring the runway is available for RFDS operations at all hours.
The runway measures 2,200 metres in length and 45 metres in width, supporting operations by Fokker 100, Embraer E190/E290, Airbus A320, Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and smaller aircraft types. Helicopter operations are also conducted in support of surrounding mining projects.
Gudai-Darri Airport’s modern FIFO terminal facilities provide passengers with a comfortable and efficient travel experience before boarding one of the 11 scheduled weekly flights to Perth or Busselton. One of the quieter airports in the Pilbara region, Gudai-Darri Airport serviced 66,012 passengers in 2025.