The number of people using Melbourne Airport hit a new post-pandemic high in October with 3,138,380 passengers travelling through the domestic and international terminals. The figure includes 2,163,667 domestic passengers, which is the highest number recorded since January 2024, while the 974,713 international travellers is a new record for October. Overall traveller numbers were up 4.1 per cent compared to October 2023, despite airlines operating fewer flights.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the growth in traveller numbers highlighted the need for airports to take a long-term approach to infrastructure planning. “Despite the economic headwinds many households are facing, travellers continue to take to the skies in growing numbers,” she said. “International passenger numbers were the highest they’ve ever been in October, while domestic travellers hit a new post-pandemic high. We are planning for continued growth, to make sure our terminal, airfield and ground transport infrastructure meets the needs of travellers not just today, but also for the decades to come.
“Accessibility is a key focus for our team, as we work to ensure the airport experience is not a barrier that prevents or restricts people from travelling,” Argus said. “It’s important that as our precinct expands, we keep the needs of passengers front of mind, and we look forward to working with our airline partners to ensure these enhancements are delivered appropriately. We’re investing more than a billion dollars a year in infrastructure upgrades, and they will cause disruption, but I’d like to thank our passengers for their patience while we undertake these important works.”
Two records in one day at BNE
A new post-pandemic record has been set for the most passengers in a single day at Brisbane Airport. Brisbane saw 77,300 passengers on Monday 11 November made up of:
- 60,200 domestic passengers
- 17,100 international passengers
The all-time pre-pandemic record remains 81,820 passengers on Friday 4 October 2019.
The strong international numbers reflect new services and growth on other routes, boosting connectivity across Asia and the Pacific.
- American Airlines commenced flights 5 times per week between Brisbane and Dallas-Fort Worth
- Qantas commenced flights 4 times per week between Brisbane and Manila
- Cathay Pacific increased from 6 flights per week to 10 flights per week between Brisbane and Hong Kong
- China Southern Airlines increased to daily flights between Brisbane and Guangzhou
- China Eastern Airlines increased to daily flights between Brisbane and Shanghai
- Qantas increased flights between Brisbane and Christchurch from daily to 12 per-week and upgraded services to Wellington from an E90 to B737
- Qantas increased flights between Brisbane and Singapore from daily to 9 per-week
- Emirates upgraded its second daily flight from a B777 to an A380
- Singapore Airlines increased from 21 flights per week to 25 flights per week between Brisbane and Singapore.
December will see a pipeline of new international launches with:
- Delta Air Lines launching flights 3 times per week from Brisbane to Los Angeles on 6 December
- Jetstar launching flights 3 times per week between Brisbane and Bangkok on 13 December
- Qantas launching the weekly ‘Palau Paradise Express’ from 7 December.
“All these extra seats and destinations are just in time for the end of year holiday season,” according to Ryan Both, Brisbane Airport Aviation Executive General Manager. “We’re eagerly anticipating Delta’s new service from Los Angeles to Brisbane. Brisbane will soon have 31 weekly flights from North America, operated by 5 carriers from 4 cities. This unprecedented range of connectivity is a first for Queensland and will provide a major boost to the state’s tourism industry, tapping into the lucrative U.S and Canadian markets.”
In the Domestic Terminal, factors boosting Monday’s busy day included:
- Monday morning FIFO travel to Queensland’s mining centres
- Strong corporate travel demand peaks
- Strong sale activity from airlines several months ago coming into play
- People travelling Monday as a result of storm delays on Sunday
- Passengers returning from weekend Coldplay concerts in Sydney.
“Flights over the past 4-week period have been the fullest they’ve been in more than a decade. On Monday, services between Brisbane and Sydney were 97% full, Melbourne 94%, 97% for Cairns, 99% for Proserpine and Newcastle flights were 100% full.,” Both said. “Passengers considering a holiday these Christmas holidays should be booking now as flights are filling up.”
Brisbane Airport also smashed the record for the greatest number of outbound passengers in a single hour through the Domestic Terminal. Between 6am and 7am on Monday, 4,452 people departed the Domestic Terminal in a single hour, the highest number ever. “Monday mornings are always key for Queensland, with FIFO workers and business travelers starting their week. But Monday was exceptional-corporate travelers are ramping up and actively visiting clients to close out the year,” Both said. “They’ll soon be replaced by a flood of domestic tourists pouring into BNE for Summer holidays. We know when Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is busy.”
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