Bumper Christmas expected for Brisbane Airport due to strong growth

Brisbane Airport has so far experienced 5.3% growth in International passengers and 7.4% growth for Domestic passengers compared to last financial year, showing signs of a record Christmas season ahead.

For the month of November 344,607 passengers passed through our international terminal building, while 1,347,139 flew domestic, resulting in strong growth figures of 3.1% and 7.4% respectively.

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesperson, Rebecca Masci said the growth in passenger numbers was the result of significant capacity increases in the international and domestic arenas the strong Australian dollar and stable interest rates.

“Visitors from China increased by a huge 18.9% in November, which is thanks to China Southern’s strong entry into the market (three times weekly to Guangzhou) last month,” Ms Masci said.

“The strong growth on the domestic front was due to the injection of more than 177,000 seats (+11.9% on November 2009), with Tiger Airways leading the charge by adding the greatest number of seats of all the domestic airlines.”

Ms Masci said with such strong growth in the lead up to Christmas, record passenger numbers are expected during the holiday season at the Domestic Terminal, and people should allow extra time and plan ahead.

“We’re expecting record passengers this Christmas and the Domestic Terminal precinct is currently under construction, so people should be sure to add a half hour onto their travel time to the airport, and visit www.bne.com.au before you fly to find out about the changes around precinct,” Ms Masci said.

To avoid suffering from 'holiday hysterics’ and become your family’s ‘holiday hero’, Brisbane Airport has put together a number of hot tips to get you speedily through the airport this Christmas and onto your holiday destination as quickly and pain-free as possible.