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Brisbane Airport has taken out the capital city airport of the year award at the Australian Airports Association (AAA) national conference for a second straight year.
The AAA recognised Brisbane Airport for its digital departure card initiative, as well as the upgrades to the international terminal and how it managed the aircraft movements for the G20 conference in November 2014.
Brisbane Airport chief executive Julieanne Alroe said winning the capital city airport of the year award was “unexepected and humbling”.
“These national awards are an enormous and well deserved honour for each and every BAC team member whose hard work, attention to detail and expertise contributed to our success in these highly sought-after awards,” Alroe said in a statement.
“It’s a very exciting period of growth and change in Australia and travellers are fortunate to have an airport and aviation industry working hard to provide the best services and infrastructure available.”
Among the other awards, Launceston Airport was named major airport of the year for its work improving the airport’s entrance and exits, as well as new car parking options and office space.
Away from the big cities, Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport took out the large regional airport of the year category and Horn Island Airport was awarded small regional airport of the year.
The awards were presented at the AAA national conference dinner on Wednesday evening in Hobart.
The AAA said the assessment criteria was changed in 2015, with the major airport and capital city airport of the year awards based on specific projects.
“The AAA National Airport Industry Awards are a valuable way for airports and corporate members to showcase their contributions and provides the industry with the opportunity to celebrate and honour these achievements,” AAA chief executive Caroline Wilkie said in a statement.
“The new awards criteria, categories and initiatives introduced this year are designed to recognise the array of activities involved in successful airport operations such as customer experience, infrastructure development and environmental management, as well as to encourage greater participation from regional airport operators around the country.”
The AAA said there were a record high 79 nominations across all three categories.
Meanwhile, outgoing Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) chief executive Dennis Chant received the outstanding contribution to the industry award in recognition of his 16 years with the company.
And AAA chairman Stephen Goodwin, who is stepping down from the post after four years in the role, was given a distinguished service award.
Full list of awards:
- Capital City Airport of the Year – Brisbane Airport (QLD) for its ‘Digital Departure Card’ solution; International Terminal transformation; and, operational management for the G20 conference
- Major Airport of the Year – Launceston Airport (TAS) for its overhaul of the airport entrance/exit; new airport parking solutions; and, new suite of terminal office accommodation
- Large Regional Airport of the Year – Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport (QLD) for its terminal and airport development
- Small Regional Airport of the Year – Horn Island Airport (QLD) for its airport chapel project
- Corporate Project of the Year – Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (SA) for its airport master planning project
- Airport Innovation & Excellence (Customer Experience) – Canberra Airport (ACT) for its “Here to Help” initiative
- Airport Innovation & Excellence (Environmental Management) – Canberra Airport (ACT) for its resource reduction program
- Airport Innovation & Excellence (Commercial) – Darwin International Airport (NT) for its terminal expansion project
- Airport Innovation & Excellence (Operations) – Sydney Airport (NSW) for its early bag storage; and, make-up expansion
- Airport Innovation & Excellence (Infrastructure Development) – Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport (QLD) for its runway and terminal expansion project
- Airport Innovation & Excellence (Technology) presented by SITA – Perth Airport (WA) for its Xovis passenger tracking technology
(Source: Australian Airports Association)
KosCoz
says:Arrived at Brisbane International Airport on Monday 12 October and it chaos galore. Huge and very long queues trying to get through immigration. Seems that some of the e-passport machines were not working. Not a pleasant experience and not a nice welcome for visitors.
AgentB
says:Agreed, whilst arriving into Brisbane you now have to pass through duty free. Sounds OK, but as you walk through the duty free area the walkways narrow to a small gap where all passengers have to pass to enter the immigration area. In peak periods it’s a complete mess, same goes after you collect your bags as the queues are enormous with limited signage. The staff are all grumpy and I don’t blame them having to put up with the chaos. After my 14 hour trek from LA it took me another 2 hours to clear customs.. Pathetic!
Mark
says:These above comments are surprising as we flew in on A380 from Dubai and where through shopping for duty free and customes etc in about 30min and that included declaring goods purchased overseas. I got to say it’s a great airport (with the exception of the domestic terminal is dated but stay tuned for a substantial upgrade.
Dave
says:Is this a joke? A bit over a fortnight ago I arrived in Brisbane on an international flight. It took over 2 hours to get through immigration. I have got through Heathrow and LAX at the busiest times of the day faster than going through Brisbane.
KosCoz
says:In addition to my first comment here – Brisbane Airport was given an award as “Capital City Airport of the Year” and one of the criteria was based on its ‘Digital Departure Card’ solution.
WOW – doesn’t take much to get an award. I have been through Brisbane International airport twice in the last couple of months and used this digital departure card based on the Brisbane Airport app. It worked the first time but on the second time, the one machine in the departure area was not working – so back to manually filling out the departure card. Underwhelming technology.
Also, can anyone please explain why we need to fill out departure and arriving immigration cards. Surely, they have all the information needed from our flight details and passports. Many other countries do not require these cards so why do we do it here? All I have ever seen immigration do is file the card in a box. Does anybody read these cards? Exactly what is their function?