BNE May passenger figures leading to record year end

Brisbane Airport recorded good passenger growth in May, a traditionally quiet month, with 4.4 per cent growth (or an additional 57,000 passengers) at the domestic terminal and a 2.9 per cent increase overall, with approx. 1.69 million travellers passing through the airport in total.

This growth is expected to continue throughout the cooler months with additional seat capacity announced by several airlines including extra Sydney-Brisbane services by Qantas, new Mount Isa-Brisbane services by Virgin Australia, and extra Cairns-Brisbane services by Jetstar.

While international arrivals and departures declined slightly in May in line with a reduction in seat capacity, the year-to-date growth for international passengers through Brisbane Airport is healthy at 4.6 per cent.

As with previous months, Brisbane Airport also recorded strong year-on-year growth in Asian arrivals and departures, with China recording 22 per cent growth (or an additional 2,000 passengers), Taiwan totalling 10 per cent growth (or an additional 400 passengers), and India with an 8 per cent increase (or an additional 500 passengers).

BAC CEO and Managing Director Julieanne Alroe said Brisbane Airport expected a strong end to the financial year.

“Last year we had a record number of 20 million passengers through Brisbane Airport and with the end of the 2012 financial year just around the corner, we expect to break our own record, especially with the peak school holiday travel period starting on 23 June,” Ms Alroe said.