Expansion take off as Brisbane international airport turns 30
As Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal reaches the three-decade mark, it reveals its latest passenger numbers.
Fresh figures show more than 118 million travellers have passed through Brisbane Airport’s international terminal since since it opened in 1995, and more than 6 million passengers in the last year alone, up 16.3 per cent from the previous year.
It comes alongside new research which found Brisbane passengers travelling overseas via other Australian airports was at a new low of 7.1 percent.
Construction of the $240 million facility began in 1993, with the final product being delivered ahead of schedule and under budget.
Then Prime Minister Paul Keating described the terminal as a “confident building”.
“It says something about Australia, and it says something about Queensland, and I think the confidence that Australia has, Queensland has by the bucket,” Keating said in 1995.
At its opening, Brisbane’s International Terminal had eight aerobridges whereas the old terminal had passengers boarding on the tarmac. A 2008 expansion provided 33,000 additional square metres across four floors, reconfiguring airline processing, retailing, security and baggage areas.
Brisbane’s International Terminal now hosts 19 aerobridges servicing 26 airlines to 35 direct destinations.
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The Gold Coast Airport is also undergoing changes under its 20-year Master Plan, ahead of the 2032 Olympics. The Master Plan will see extra connectivity to support the airport’s number of annual travellers which is predicted to double to 13 million by 2044.
Terminal expansion
The Brisbane terminal will soon be transformed as part of a $5 billion ‘Future BNE’ investment over the next five years.
This expansion will feature the relocation of security and passport control to the atrium on the same level as check-in to streamline procedures.
There will also be smarter security screening allowing electronic devices such as laptops to stay in bags.
More self-service check-in and bag drop off stations will allow for smoother departures, while covered walkways will expand boarding capacity.
10 new and refreshed food and beverage outlets and doubling the area of the duty-free retail will offer more room for passengers to unwind.
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said airports in growing cities were never finished.
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“Thirty years on, the terminal still ignites the excitement of a holiday departure and the joy of arriving in Queensland and is a true credit to the vision and skill of its original designers,” de Graaff said.
Connectivity increases
Brisbane International Terminal will welcome several new connections, strengthening its reputation as a key international gateway in Australia.
New connections include Malaysia Airlines returning to Brisbane from November to offer five weekly services to Kuala Lumpur.
Jetstar will launch a new season service to Cebu, Philippines starting in December.
Delta Air Lines will return with seasonal services to Los Angeles.
American Airlines will resume seasonal flights from Dallas Fort-Worth operating its flagship aircraft 787-9.
China Southern Airlines will double services from Guangzhou to Brisbane during the peak 2025/26 summer season.
Cathay Pacific will increase their offering to double daily flights from October, a record high for Brisbane
Terminal history
The Brisbane Airport Interim International Terminal opened in 1975, intended to only be functional for five years. Instead it served as Brisbane’s International gateway for 20 years.
A volunteer program was introduced two decades ago to welcome and aid international arrivals to the terminal. Six original volunteers has grown into a team of 165. Two of the original members are still involved in the program.
The terminal has served as a backdrop in movies across the last three decades including Young Rock, Thirteen Lives and Ticket to Paradise.
The celebration of Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal’s 30th birthday is part of Brisbane Airport’s 100-year celebrations.
“Our International Terminal is Queensland’s gateway to the world, a vital link that underpins the state’s visitor economy and global connectivity,” Gert-Jan de Graaff said.
