Brisbane Airport's vital socio-economic role
50,500
local jobs (indirect) by 2046
$7.3 billion
contributed directly to the Australian economy by 2046
5.2 million
passengers to and from Brisbane Airport with Queensland's regional centres in 2023-24
Brisbane Airport contributes significantly to the economic and social prosperity of Brisbane, South East Queensland (SEQ) and wider Queensland by enabling the local and global movement of people and goods, generating $780 in economic activity per passenger.
Brisbane Airport fulfils a core role in Brisbane, SEQ, and Queensland’s economy by operating an airport facility that includes runways, terminals, and critical aviation safety and security.
In addition to these core activities, Brisbane Airport supports a much wider range of activities through other businesses operating within the airport precinct, including airlines and charter services, retail and tourism services, maintenance facilities, transport logistics, and catering.
Brisbane Airport’s economic contribution includes:
25,000 people are employed in more than 600 businesses operating across Brisbane Airport and another 18,000 indirectly in the Queensland economy in 2025-26. This represents the most significant employment clustering in Queensland outside of Brisbane’s Central Business District. This is forecast to increase to 50,500 direct jobs in 2045-46.
Brisbane Airport is helping facilitate the Queensland tourism sector, enabling a total economic contribution of tourism to Queensland estimated at $34.1 billion in 2023-24 and creating 260,000 jobs.
Brisbane Airport plays an important role in the Australian freight network and its connections to global markets, with air freight contributing significantly to Queensland’s export value. In 2023-24, this equated to 76,000 tonnes of exports and 53,000 tonnes of imported goods.
International education is one of Queensland’s most significant service exports, with 1 in 23 international visitors to Queensland engaging with education services in 2022. Accordingly, Brisbane Airport helps facilitate international students studying in Queensland, which is estimated to contribute $3.2 billion to the Queensland economy and create more than 16,000 jobs.
Queensland industries use Brisbane Airport to move their people, connecting regional Queensland with the right skills and employees for regional jobs. In 2023-24, Brisbane Airport facilitated more than 500,000 workers to and from the key mining region airports.
Queensland’s population is forecast to grow by more than 30 per cent due to economic opportunities, and an enviable lifestyle. This growth means Brisbane Airport's air travel and freight demand will also grow, which is forecast to contribute approximately $7.8 billion worth of capital projects to respond to the growth.
Because Brisbane Airport enables trade, tourism, international education, resources, and business sectors, it is estimated that the annual enabled economic activity will rise to $27.7 billion by 2045-46, an increase of $14 billion from 2025-26.
Connecting Brisbane to Australia and beyond
Brisbane Airport’s jobs and transport connectivity are major social contributors to the surrounding communities of Brisbane and Queensland. Brisbane Airport connects people and families, connects people travelling for holidays, business purposes, medical reasons, and more, and plays a pivotal role in the Australian freight network and the supply of time-sensitive goods.
Brisbane Airport’s social contribution includes:
Brisbane Airport is relied on by most Queensland airports for the availability of services for domestic air travel, being the central airport to connect regional Queensland with the rest of the state and Australia. In 2023-24, Brisbane Airport facilitated the travel of more than 5.2 million passengers to and from regional Queensland, with an average of 1,200 weekly flights.
Brisbane Airport is crucial in facilitating medical flights for rural and remote Queenslanders to major hospitals and life-saving medical care in Brisbane. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and LifeFlight operate bases at Brisbane Airport and provide essential medical and transfer services across Queensland and Australia. An estimated 9,000 patients were transported through Brisbane Airport for health services in 2023-24.
Do you support the Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan?
Your feedback, in favour of or with suggestions for change, is welcome. It takes less than two minutes and will contribute towards shaping the future of Brisbane Airport and Queensland as a whole.
Highlights from the Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan
Select a topic below to learn more about how the Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan is delivering and addressing the airport’s, stakeholder’s and community’s most important issues.
Future Terminal Plans
As Australia's most connected hub and having 24/7 connections, Brisbane Airport needs to support a broad range of airline operations and be flexible to meet the changing needs of passengers and airlines.
Ground Transport and Connectivity
Improved connectivity and safety improvements for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists around the airport; plus new public transport options.
Looking for more information?
The full Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan is available for download, which outlines our future vision in detail.