Future Terminal Plans

Providing improved traveller experiences and long-term sustainability for airport growth and economic injection.

New terminal and airfield facilities are needed to meet demand

Over 50 million

passengers by 2046

24/7

operations for passengers and freight connections

New terminal

New passenger terminal opening early 2030s

Brisbane Airport’s Aviation Plan sets out future development of airfield infrastructure and passenger terminals to accommodate the anticipated aircraft and passenger forecasts underpinning the 2026 Master Plan.

24/7 passenger and freight connections mean Brisbane Airport needs to support a range of airline operations and adapt to changing needs of passengers and airlines, with passenger and aircraft movements forecast to double over the next 20 years.

The Aviation Plan outlines the proposed development of passenger terminals over the next 20 years, including the ongoing use of the International Terminal 1 (T1) and Domestic Terminal 2 (T2), along with a new Terminal 3 (T3) precinct.

Additional aircraft parking stands will be required in the short term with some gate expansion required in the piers to support this.

The future of Brisbane Airport’s terminals

A new terminal, Terminal 3 (T3), will be constructed and operational by the early 2030's.

T3 will provide:

A staged approach to delivering capacity
Planning is underway an integrated precinct
Continued detailed engagement with airlines is happening to align terminal infrastructure need
A balanced outcome between commercial development costs, capacity and continued retention of and use of T1 and T2

The location of T3 between the parallel runways will result in optimal airfield access and reduce aircraft taxi times.

T3 will incrementally expand over the coming decades to meet growth passenger forecasts, with the size of T3 informed through terminal planning studies, airline community interests, precinct commercial opportunities and consideration of the customer experience.

Download Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan - Chapter 11 - Aviation Plan

Key details laid out by the Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan

Learn the fast facts about Future Terminals as outlined in the Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan. Looking for more information? Download the full Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan

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Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan

The next great transformation of Brisbane Airport.

Explore Brisbane Airport’s vision for growth, sustainability, and innovation over the next two decades, including new terminals, improved transport, noise management, and decarbonisation initiatives.

Select a category below to learn more:

Future terminals

Terminal 3 is set to undergo transformative upgrades to enhance passenger comfort, streamline operations, and provide a modern travel experience. Improvements include expanded seating areas, upgraded amenities, advanced technology integration, and optimized security processes.

Map layers

Planned development – 2031

Potential development – 2046

Airfield + terminal expansion beyond 2046

Airfield planning

Planned Development to 2031

Terminal 1: Planned projects envisaged over the next 5 years include:

Expansion of gates
Upgraded baggage handling system capacity
Expansion of self-service check-in areas
Additional self-service arrival processing facilities at border and customs
A multi-level carpark and road and intersection upgrades

Terminal 2: Due to continued growth in the domestic market, the domestic terminal will have upgrades to existing passenger processes. Planned projects envisaged over the next 5 years include:

Domestic check-in upgrades
New gate areas
Baggage reclaim upgrades
New car parking facilities (P3)

Potential Development to 2046

Terminal 1 expansions over the next 20 years:

Expansion of arrival and departure passenger processing areas
Expansion of terminal piers

Planned developments at Terminal 2 over the next 20 years:

Terminal amenity improvements
Upgrades to passenger processing

Ground Transport and Connectivity

Enhancements to transport infrastructure will improve connectivity and accessibility in and around the airport. Upgrades include expanded parking facilities, improved road networks, enhanced public transportation options, and provisions for sustainable mobility solutions.

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Shared paths

Proposed Brisbane Airport upgrades

Public Transport Improvements

Public transport network: BAC aims to support commuter access to genuine public transport options, as improving connectivity across the Southeast Queensland region becomes more paramount.

Road Infrastructure Upgrades

Road network: With the road network connecting people to the airport expected to reach capacity and experience congestion over the coming years, intervention is needed to monitor traffic demand, improve traffic flow, and accommodate internal and external developments alongside general traffic growth.

Future Transport Initiatives

Future demand and connectivity: Brisbane Airport will need to accommodate the increased passenger, employee and business demand over the coming years, through infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions.
Active transport: Active transport is emerging as a critical element to transport and recreation, with connectivity, accessibility and safety being the main areas of concern for users, creating an opportunity for Brisbane Airport to incorporate this into its existing transport network.
Ground operations and parking: As ride-share and taxi remain popular modes of transport and new car technologies emerge, Brisbane Airport will continue monitoring impacts and improvements.
Freight: As Brisbane Airport anticipates its industrial precincts to grow over the next five years, improvements to the suitability of the freight network will be monitored to ensure efficient freight movements alongside increased growth.

Aircraft Noise

Brisbane Airport is one of the many parties that play an important role in managing aircraft noise, balancing the needs of a growing aviation industry with the well-being of surrounding communities.

Airservices Australia is tasked with managing noise impacts associated with aircraft operations.

Land use planning authorities apply the ANEF contours to land use planning and development applications in the surrounding area, to ensure that developments are compatible with the noise level.

BAC’s approach to noise management is:

Reduction of noise at source and noise preferential treatment
Land use planning and management
Noise abatement and operation procedures
Operating restrictions investigations
Regular noise action plan reviews
Working with industry to balance growth and community need

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2026 ANEF

Alternate noise metrics

Australian Noise Exposure Forecast (ANEF)

The ANEF is the primary tool for considering and managing the impact of aircraft noise in new developments surrounding Australian airports. It maps forecast noise exposure levels around an airport (contours) based on projected future aircraft operations, to balance urban development with aviation safety, environmental considerations and community well-being. Planners, developers and local authorities use these contours to guide land use planning and development decisions and ensure compatibility with the surrounding noise environment.

ANEF contours are displayed as 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 ANEF levels with higher contour levels representing higher cumulative daily aircraft noise averaged over a year. Furthermore, to emphasise the effect of night time operations, the number of flights modelled to occur during night time periods is multiplied by a weighting of four. This forecast has been adopted in Australia to align with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) endorsed concept of a ‘balanced approach to aircraft noise management’.

Noise Action Plan for Brisbane

The development of a Noise Action Plan for Brisbane, by Airservices Australia, is currently underway. As the investigations, options analysis, and decisions are not yet complete, they are not reflected in the Noise Contours and the assumptions in this Master Plan.

The noise contours included in the 2026 Master Plan are based on the current operating flight paths. When the Noise Action Plan outcomes are known, Brisbane Airport will review the outcomes and update noise models accordingly.

Alternate Metrics

N contours show the number of times noise levels exceed a nominated level at various locations around the Airport. The N contours shown are set out in the National Aiports Safeguarding Framework.

Brisbane Airport's Sustainable Future

The Airport Master Plan emphasises a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Strategies include the adoption of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient infrastructure, sustainable aviation fuels, and carbon offset programs to ensure a greener future for aviation.

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Future Terminal Plans

Precinct Development

Aviation Operations

Clean skies for tomorrow

BAC is a signatory to the World Economic Forums ‘Clean Skies for Tomorrow’ initiative. This targets 10% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 worldwide.

Clean energy initiatives

Continued expansion of onsite solar generation in the next decade to add to the 11MW capacity already available.

Energy management

Apply design and energy management tools for improved energy management.

Airport Environment Strategy

Brisbane Airport employs extensive planning and environmental oversight across its landside precincts, biodiversity zones, airfield, drainage channels, and the Moreton Bay foreshore—ensuring sustainability, cultural conservation, and operational responsibility in line with its EMS and regulatory frameworks.

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Biodiversity zones

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

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.

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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.

Ground Transport and Connectivity

Improved connectivity and safety improvements for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists around the airport; plus new public transport options.

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Australian Noise Exposure Forecast

View forecasted noise and contours as Brisbane continues to serve Queensland 24/7 for tourism, freight and emergency services.

Learn more

Looking for more information?

The full Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan is available for download, which outlines our future vision in detail.

Download the Preliminary Draft 2026 Master Plan