Brisbane Airport has made two major announcements related to airport expansion and renewable energy. Anticipating the rising passenger traffic in coming years, the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) is planning a new terminal to cater to demand. The airport has predicted that the passenger traffic will almost double and reach up to 50 million by 2040.
Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation, said: “We are running out of terminal capacity and we are looking at the best location, together with our airline partners, for where that new terminal will go. We think it will be in between the two runaways because that is the perfect location to minimize aircraft taxiing, and it is close to our current domestic terminal. A few of our domestic airlines will likely go into Terminal 3. We might even allocate some international traffic in there as well to provide for better connectivity between domestic and international flights.”
Currently, Brisbane Airport is planning to invest more than $5 billion in the next 10 years to upgrade both terminals, build extra car parking, develop a regional aeromedical hub, expand Skygate and DFO, and build more freight facilities.
“Terminal 3 will be state of the art so that will be a terminal we have built for the 2030s. Sustainability will be front and center, as well as accessibility. We know that come 2032, Brisbane Airport will provide the first and last impression for all Olympic and Paralympic visitors and we take that responsibility very seriously,” added Gert-Jan.
Riding high on the sustainability wave, the airport recently signed an agreement with Stanwell Corporation to supply up to 185 GWh of power each year from Queensland's Clarke Creek Wind Farm to the airport hub.
“This energy deal delivers on Brisbane Airport Corporation’s commitment to be a sustainable world-leading airport city. Queenslanders can travel through our terminals knowing their journey begins and ends at one of the world’s most sustainable airports once this energy begins flowing from regional Queensland,” Gert-Jan concludes.
Brisbane airports witness a footfall of around 60,000 every day due to its strategic location as the gateway for flights from North America and South East Asia. Besides, Brisbane airport caters to 53 Australian destinations, more than any other airport.