Brisbane Airport anticipates 2.5 million passengers during winter holiday period

Brisbane Airport Set to Welcome 2.5 Million Passengers During Winter Holiday Period

As the winter holiday season approaches, Brisbane Airport is gearing up to welcome an estimated 2.5 million passengers from June 14 to July 22. This surge in passenger numbers is a promising sign for the tourism industry, with domestic arrivals just two percentage points shy of pre-COVID levels and international arrivals up by almost a fifth year-on-year.

Tourism operators are expected to benefit greatly from this influx of passengers, with a 5 per cent rise in domestic passengers to 1.9 million and an 18 per cent jump in international passengers to 600,000. These figures represent 98 per cent and 90 per cent of 2019 levels respectively, indicating a strong recovery in the travel sector.

According to Brisbane Airport spokesperson Peter Doherty, the busy holiday season will have a positive impact on Queensland’s tourism industry, with travellers spreading out to popular destinations such as the Gold Coast, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Queensland outback.

The increase in international visitors is particularly notable, with a surge in capacity from Japan, China, and New Zealand leading the way. Flights to and from Japan are set to double pre-COVID levels, with 18 flights per week in each direction via Qantas and Jetstar. Similarly, there will be daily services between Brisbane and mainland China, a significant increase from last year when there were no direct flights.

New Zealand, a key contributor of tourists to Queensland, will also see an increase in flights, with 87 flights per week in each direction compared to 76 last year. The trans-Tasman market is serviced by several airlines including Qantas, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and China Airlines.

With the busiest day at the International Terminal forecasted to be Sunday, July 7, and the Domestic Terminal on Friday, July 5, Brisbane Airport is preparing for a busy but exciting holiday season. The staggered schedule of school holidays for Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales will help evenly distribute the number of travellers, reducing peak times at terminals and providing a sustained boost to Queensland’s tourism industry.