Play it safe when travelling this Easter
Brisbane Airport is teaming up with Kidsafe to urge travellers to prioritise safety this Easter holiday period.
Security footage of incidents across the terminals shows simple behavioural changes can help avoid injuries and incidents.
With 30% of all airport injuries occurring on escalators and travelators, passengers with bulky baggage are encouraged to make use of lifts instead of travelators or escalators, especially if mobility is a concern.
One of the most common causes of injury among junior travellers involves children riding on suitcases through the terminal. While it may seem harmless and an easy way to move children through a busy airport, it can result in falls and injuries.
“Suitcases do a great job of carrying luggage, not people, and their misuse can quickly turn into a serious safety risk,” says Brisbane Airport Head of Safety Peter Dorn.
“When children ride on suitcases, their high centre of gravity combined with small wheels makes them unstable and prone to tipping over. This has resulted in children hitting the tile floor and being injured.
“We understand parents are juggling a lot when heading for a flight but using luggage to transport children is unsafe.”
Surveillance footage also highlights preventable injuries involving older travellers, particularly those attempting to manage bulky luggage on escalators. These situations can lead to loss of balance, falls, and strain-related injuries.
“Easter is one of the busiest travel periods at Brisbane Airport, with more than a million people on the move across the holiday period. We want to equip parents, carers, and all travellers with the knowledge and tools they need to make safe choices as they move through the airport.
“Despite the number of passengers growing year on year, accidents involving the public declined in 2024 and 2025, and we’d like to see it even lower, so everyone gets safely to their destination.”
Brisbane Airport welcomed 25 million passengers in 2025, with 187 public injuries reported, most of them minor, requiring first aid treatment for issues like bumps or scratches.
Brisbane Airport Head of Safety Peter Dorn said many airport accidents are linked to traveler distraction.
“People often experience ‘airport brain’,” he said.
“They’re thinking about flights, tickets, passports, and whether they’ve locked up the house.
“Brisbane Airport is a safe place, but we want to make it even safer.”
Kidsafe Queensland CEO Susan Teerds joined Brisbane Airport in calling on parents to ensure kids travel through the airport in a safe manner.
“By taking a little extra care and keeping an eye on children, everyone can help make their journey through the airport safer and smoother.
“Keep your eyes on your kids and within arm's reach. Particularly around equipment like baggage carousels and escalators.”
Top tips to stay safe at Brisbane Airport:
- Do not place children or babies on suitcases to transport them
- Passengers with heavy bags are best to use lifts
- Use handrails when using escalators or travelators
- Supervise children closely and avoid play around baggage carousels, trolleys and other airport equipment
- Follow safety signage through terminals
- Follow approved pedestrian paths through car parks, and don’t exit under boom gates
- Allow plenty of time to reduce the need to rush through busy areas.
For more information contact Brisbane Airport’s 24/7 media contact 0466 322 485.