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Brisbane Airport’s centennial year was the busiest in its history, the airport has said, with almost 25 million passengers in 2025.
Total passenger numbers were up 5.3 per cent on the 2024 calendar year, while December was also Brisbane’s busiest month on record, with 2.3 million passengers. International passengers were up 10.7 per cent on 2024, with domestic up 3.2 per cent.
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Both the domestic and international terminals hit single-day records in the last quarter of the year, with domestic seeing 64,015 passengers on 6 October for the NRL Grand Final and international seeing 26,111 passengers on 20 December.
“When Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is thriving. In 2025 we didn’t just break the daily record in the International Terminal which has stood since 2020, we smashed it,” said Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert‑Jan de Graaff.
“That kind of jump in passenger numbers demonstrates the momentum building at Brisbane Airport and mirrors the momentum building right across South East Queensland as the clock counts down to 2032.
“January 2026 has also started solidly, and February is shaping up to be strong as well, with Lunar New Year celebrations boosting passenger numbers and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Suncorp Stadium drawing in even more visitors.”
The news comes amid Brisbane’s major $5 billion Future BNE transformation program, which includes renovations to its domestic and international terminals, continued planning for a new Terminal 3 precinct, aircraft parking and apron expansions, runway resurfacing, and a new aeromedical facility so medical repatriation and emergency services can be centralised at the airport.
December saw upgrades to security screening, with new systems installed at Brisbane’s domestic and international terminals. The airport has also announced plans for a new plane-spotting area.
“Passengers are experiencing the convenience of being able to keep items like laptops in their bags,” de Graaff said.
“2026 will see even more transformation at the International Terminal, with passport control permanently relocating to the same level as check‑in and the new security screening area. New dining options will also open, and in 2027 a vastly expanded duty‑free store will welcome travellers.
“With 25,000 people currently working at Brisbane Airport, we know that number is set to swell by another 20,000 over the next couple of decades.”
December 2025 was Australia’s busiest end-of-year peak in five years, according to Airservices data.
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