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West Island

Now26° Tomorrow27°

The long, thin island of the Cocos atoll that holds the runway, the shops and most of the visitor beds, with the lagoon along its shore.

Fly to West Island All of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Arrival
Cocos (Keeling) Islands · CCK
To the island
The airport is on West Island
Private jets
Prior permission 24 hours ahead; fuel on 36 hours' notice
Best time
June to October

The city

A runway, a lagoon and coconut palms.

West Island is the arrival point of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory of twenty-seven islands in the Indian Ocean. Its airstrip began as a Royal Air Force base in 1945, laid in two months; today the island is flat enough to cross by bicycle, with tracks through coconut groves, a small gallery of art made from what the sea washes up, and a ferry to Home Island and Direction Island.

From May to October steady south-east trade winds blow across the lagoon, often 15 to 25 knots, and kitesurfers come for them. The Visitor Centre places the heaviest rain in March to May; June to October follow with drier weeks, and with only about 144 visitor beds on the atoll, those months book early.

  • The runway golf course Fairways laid across the international runway, with a casual competition every Thursday afternoon.
  • Trannies Beach Shallow, sheltered water for a first snorkel, and free gas barbecues under the palms.
  • The lagoon Trade winds from dawn to dusk in the dry months, and open water for kitesurfing.

Arriving

One runway, prior permission.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Airport sits on the south-west edge of West Island. Every arrival, even from mainland Australia, is treated as international and clears customs and quarantine on landing.

Business & First Class Scheduled flights QantasLink flies from Perth twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays; since May 2026 the Friday flight is direct, at just over four hours. Travellers from the Australian mainland need only photo identification. Business & First fares Private Jet Private jets The 8,009-foot asphalt runway, lit on pilot activation, takes private jets with prior permission, requested by email at least 24 hours ahead. Jet A1 is available around the clock with 36 hours' notice; there is no rescue and firefighting service, and accommodation must be booked before arrival. Charter a jet
Approximate flying time by midsize jet
  • Jakarta 2 h 00
  • Singapore 2 h 35
  • Mumbai 5 h 55
  • Doha 8 h 35 long-range jet
  • Athens 12 h 25 long-range jet

When to go

June to October.

Warm and humid every month, days of 28 to 30 degrees and the sea at 26 to 28. Rain is heaviest from March to May; from June the trade winds settle in, and August to October are the driest months.

  1. 29° J 208 28°
  2. 30° F 180 28°
  3. 30° M 242 28°
  4. 30° A 255 28°
  5. 29° M 192 28°
  6. 28° J 201 28°
  7. 28° J 192 27°
  8. 28° A 124 27°
  9. 28° S 105 26°
  10. 29° O 99 26°
  11. 29° N 132 27°
  12. 29° D 152 27°
Best months weather2travel.com, long-term averages for West Island

Elsewhere in Cocos (Keeling) Islands

More reasons to come.

All of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Flying to West Island?

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A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.

Business & First Private Jet