Gold Coast airport on Wednesday (5 March) confirmed it would be closed until further notice from 4pm local time.
Elsewhere, all scheduled services at Ballina Byron Gateway have been cancelled for the next two days, while Coffs Harbour Airport has cancelled all flights from midnight on Wednesday through to midday on Thursday (6 March).
Operations at Brisbane and Sunshine Coast airports are continuing, but both airports have warned travellers of the potential for delays and cancellations.
"Brisbane airport will continue to operate its terminals as long as airlines schedule flights in and out, for emergency and aeromedical services, for defence operations, and while it is safe to do so," said the airport in a statement.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the category 2 cyclone is less than 200 miles away from Brisbane and is expected to hit the states of Queensland and New South Wales late on Thursday.
Alfred will become the first cyclone to hit Australia’s eastern coast for more than 50 years, bringing heavy rain, gusts of up to 75mph and 10-metre-high waves.
Local authorities have warned residents to prepare for the storm’s passage, with Queensland premier David Crisafulli urging people not to leave their evacuation plans until the last minute.
"There is the prospect that this cyclone could cross the coast in the middle of the night with a high tide,” he said on Wednesday. “And that is not the time to make your evacuation plan, now is the time. If you do so, I have every faith that Queenslanders will be kept safe.”
Meanwhile, New South Wales state emergency services told citizens to expect “moderate to major flooding”. “Please use common sense and don’t drive through flood waters,” urged New South Wales premier Chris Minns.
The UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Australia on Monday (3 March), warning of localised flash flooding and severe coastal hazards, which could disrupt transport.
