The airport was officially opened on 12 December 1931, by the Minister for Trade and Customs, the Hon. Frank Forde, M.H.R., as a civilian airport. The airport was renamed in 1936 to Hinkler Airport after Bundabergs famous aviator Bert Hinkler
With the outbreak of World War II, it was decided as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme to requisition Bundaberg Airport and develop it as a Royal Australian Air ForceFlying Training School. Known as RAAF Station Bundaberg it was initially used in 1941 by No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF, until 12 EFTS relocated to Lowood Aerodrome on 12 January 1942. No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF then operated from the base.
Units Based at Bundaberg
No. 32 Squadron RAAF – 1 May 1943 – 4 September 1944
No. 66 Squadron RAAF – 20 May 1943 – 6 January 1944
No. 71 Squadron RAAF – 1 May 1942 – 26 January 1943
No. 8 Service Flying Training School RAAF – 14 December 1941 – 25 July 1945
No. 12 Elementary Flying Training School RAAF – 16 October 1941 – 12 January 1942
No. 88 Operational Base Unit RAAF – 14 June 1945 – 26 April 1946
Located within the Bundaberg General Cemetery, it contains the burial places of 46 soldiers and airmen of the Australian Forces and five airmen of the United States Army Air Corps.
Post war
The Department of Civil Aviation took over Bundaberg Aerodrome on 31 July 1946. Bundaberg City Council took over the airport in June 1983. A new terminal was opened on 9 May 1986. A major extension to Bundaberg Airport was completed in March 2010, making the runway jet capable and also including an expanded Terminal.
On 26 February 2013, Virgin Australia announced it would start flights between Brisbane and Bundaberg on 4 May 2013. Virgin Australia's ATR-72 Turboprop aircraft will operate a daily return flight which has been timed to allow for convenient transfers to connecting flights out of Brisbane. Flights will depart Brisbane at 12.40pm arriving into Bundaberg at 1.40pm and depart Bundaberg at 2.10pm, arriving in Brisbane at 3.10pm. On 3 February 2014, Virgin Australia announced the addition of four flights per week between Brisbane and Bundaberg, adding to its current daily flight. The new flights will depart Brisbane at 5.05pm on Sunday and Monday, arriving into Bundaberg at 6.05pm, and departing Bundaberg at 6.10am on Monday and Tuesday, arriving in Brisbane at 7.10am.
