Brisbane Airport to undergo $5bn transformation

Brisbane Airport Corporation is embarking on a decade long transformation of Brisbane Airport with a $5 billion Future BNE investment program that will future proof Queensland’s most important transportation hub. 

Future BNE is not just one project, it is comprised of more than 150 projects including upgrades to the Domestic Terminal, International Terminal as well as to continue plans for a new Terminal 3 Precinct. 

Other works to be delivered include the expansion of aircraft parking and aprons, the resurfacing of the legacy runway, and the construction of a state-of-the-art Aeromedical facility to centralise medical repatriation and emergency services at Brisbane Airport. 

“We’re investing now to get ahead of the population growth curve so we’re ready for 2032 and beyond. We’re investing now so Queenslanders and the world are more closely connected. And we’re investing now to be a leader in sustainability,” Brisbane Airport Corporation Chief Executive Officer Gert-Jan de Graaff said. 

Currently, more than 20,000 people work across the airport for over 600 employers, and this forecast is expected to increase by another 10,000 people over the next 10 years. 

Some of the works to be delivered under the Future BNE program include: 

• New security equipment with secure and simpler screening to allow most items to be left in bags 
• New mezzanine level with direct entrance to security screening for checked-in passengers with carry-on luggage only 
• Installation of world-class baggage system boosting security, capacity, reliability and sustainability 
• Self check-in and automated bag-drop expanded to all airlines 
• Upgraded departure gate lounges with café style seating adjacent to new retail areas 
• 10 new exciting food and beverage options for passengers 
• Bathroom upgrades across the terminal boosting capacity, accessibility and reducing water usage 
• Bussing lounge to expand capacity as a result of growing demand 
• Charging stations for airside electric vehicles for quieter and more sustainable operations 

Upgrades to the Domestic Terminal are now underway. 

This significant transformation was sparked by requirements to upgrade security screening equipment at Brisbane Airport to meet Australian Government standards by the end of 2025. Brisbane Airport Corporation took this opportunity to refresh the Domestic Terminal through a series of projects that will ultimately transform Queensland’s gateway to the world. 

“The Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal is the most connected domestic terminal in Australia with services to 61 destinations, so it is a very important transport hub. Half of those destinations are in Queensland. 

“In the past year, 20 million passengers travelled through Brisbane Airport, and we expect that to grow by 10 million passengers in the coming decade as Queensland’s population expands and our terminals need to be ready. 

“More than 20,000 people come to work at Brisbane Airport every day and we forecast that to grow to 30,000 by the time the flame is lit at the Opening Ceremony for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Future BNE will also create thousands of construction jobs as our 150 projects come to life,” Mr de Graaff said. 

Brisbane Airport Corporation has also awarded several contracts for the works. This includes Rapiscan for the security upgrade, Lendlease for the new mezzanine level, and global automation specialists Alstef and Brock Solutions for the new baggage handling system. 

“This major upgrade will ensure our Domestic Terminal continues to serve Brisbane, Queensland and Australia for many years to come. And while there will be some changes to the way you move through the terminal during construction, the end result will be a terminal we can all be proud of. And this is just the start of Future BNE,” Mr de Graaff said. 

Source: Brisbane Airport Corporation (1, 2); The Urban Developer; Infrastructure Magazine; Brisbane Development