Brisbane Airport is embarking on its next great transformation, with a $5+ billion Future BNE
investment program to create a better airport experience and cater for
Queensland’s growing population in the coming decade and beyond.
It is not one project, but more than 150 projects to transform Queensland’s most important transportation hub.
Future BNE
will include upgrades to the Domestic Terminal, International Terminal
and to continue planning a new Terminal 3 Precinct. Other aviation
projects will see the expansion of aircraft parking and aprons, the
resurfacing of the legacy runway, and the construction of a
state-of-the-art Aeromedical facility to centralise medical repatriation
and emergency services at Brisbane Airport.
"We’re
investing now to get ahead of the population growth curve so we’re
ready for 2032 and beyond. We’re investing now so Queenslanders and the
world are more closely connected. And we’re investing now to be a leader
in sustainability," says Brisbane Airport Corporation Chief Executive
Officer, Gert-Jan de Graaff.
More
than 20,000 people currently work across Brisbane Airport for more than
600 employers. This is forecast to rise by an extra 10,000 people in
the coming decade.
The Domestic Terminal Upgrade begins this week
Significant
work will commence this week on the transformation of Brisbane
Airport’s Domestic Terminal, to bring the facility which was opened just
before World Expo ‘88 into the 21st century.
Sparked
by requirements to upgrade security screening equipment to meet
Australian Government standards by the end of 2025, Brisbane Airport
Corporation will use the opportunity to refresh the terminal in a series
of projects which will transform Queensland’s gateway to the world.
"The
Brisbane Airport Domestic Terminal is the most connected domestic
terminal in Australia with services to 61 destinations, so it is a very
important transport hub. Half of those destinations are in Queensland.
"In
the past year, 20 million passengers travelled through Brisbane
Airport, and we expect that to grow by 10 million passengers in the
coming decade as Queensland’s population expands and our terminals need
to be ready.
"More
than 20,000 people come to work at Brisbane Airport every day and we
forecast that to grow to 30,000 by the time the flame is lit at the
Opening Ceremony for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Future BNE will also create thousands of construction jobs as our 150 projects come to life."
Domestic Terminal Security Upgrade
The
replacement of security screening systems is required by the Australian
Government’s Strengthening Aviation Security Initiative and must be
completed by December 2025.
This will mean the installation of new Computed Tomography (CT) technology.
Benefits include:
- Less
hassle at security screening, as passengers will be able to leave most
items in their hand luggage including laptops and aerosols
- Improved safety through better security screening
- More streamlined screening process
- Uniform experience across Australia’s major airports.
Brisbane Airport has awarded Rapiscan the contract for the security upgrade.
New mezzanine level
To
cater for the size and weight of the new screening equipment, a new
mezzanine level will be constructed above the existing Central Terminal
Area.
This
is a vast engineering project taking place in a terminal while still
caring for up to 60,000 passengers every day. When finished, it will
allow direct access from "Skywalk" (the walkway connecting carparks to
the terminal) into Security Screening for passengers who have already
checked-in and only have carry-on bags.
There
will be changes to the way passengers pass through the airport over the
3-year construction period. Travellers will be guided by airport
ambassadors, customer service officers, updated signage, and help via
bne.com.au plus our social media channels.
"We will look after travellers every step of the way.
"The
challenge is we are undertaking a vast project while still connecting
60,000 passengers to their destinations each day. It’s a bit like doing
open heart surgery on a patient while they’re running a marathon. It
won’t be easy, but we must get it done so our terminal meets Australian
Government mandated security standards for safer travel.
"It
will be more important than ever for passengers to continue arriving 90
minutes before their domestic flight to ensure a smooth departure."
Lendlease will manage this project which will be staged to minimise the impact to passengers, airlines, and retailers.
New world-class baggage system
Brisbane Airport is installing a new state of the art baggage system in the Domestic Terminal.
"The
current baggage system is made up of 3 separate systems that were
originally installed in the 1980s while Ansett was flying. When this
project is complete, Brisbane Airport will have a single world-class
system across the entire Domestic Terminal and that’s great news for
reliability, capacity, security and sustainability."
The
new system will feature upgraded security, modern bag-tag readers and
operate sustainably, shutting segments of the system down when there are
no bags to process, delivering energy savings.
An
entire new baggage hall will be built adjacent to the central satellite
walkway. The current system will continue operating until the new
system is built, tested and commissioned, allowing for a smooth
transition.
Project benefits:
- Better reliability
- Expanded capacity
- Improved security screening of checked-in bags
- Energy saving technology
BAC
has appointed global automation specialists Alstef and Brock Solutions
the contract to build the new baggage handling system.
Domestic Terminal Self Check-in
Domestic
Terminal Self Check-in upgrades will provide a quick and simple
check-in process for passengers of all domestic airlines. The new
check-in areas will be easy to use and will work seamlessly with bag
drop and security screening, leaving more time to relax and explore the
airport.
Bathroom refurbishments
We
are upgrading our bathrooms for passengers. Based on input from
customer feedback, the upgraded bathrooms in the Domestic Terminal will
include increased capacity, as well as new fixtures and finishes. The
upgrades will also include accessible bathrooms and parenting rooms and
will help reduce water usage through sustainable design.
Dining expansion
Construction
has just commenced to expand eating and dining options in the Virgin
Australia end of the terminal, with a new bar along the glass windows to
be constructed to allow customers to sip cocktails while watching
planes land and depart. A total of 10 new food and beverage options will
be available for travellers.
It
will include a 360-degree restaurant, the largest ever built at the
airport, with the 10 new exciting tenants to be announced soon.
Refreshed gate departure lounges
The
Domestic Terminal was opened on 19 March 1988 just in time for World
Expo ‘88 and while we love the 1980s, some of our terminal is certainly
overdue for a 21st century makeover. Carpet and seating will be progressively upgraded.
At departure gates adjacent to the retail upgrade, new café style social seating will be installed.
- All
furniture is Australian designed and manufactured and all timber used
is Spotted Gum which is sustainably grown in Queensland.
- All carpet is made in Australia from 100% recycled carpet
- Tabletops are made from 100% recycled glass and do not contain engineered stone / silica
- Layout is flexible to allow wheelchair access
- Window side stools enable passengers to sit and view the aircraft landing and taking off before their flight.
And yes, there will be places to recharge your devices.
Charging Stations for Airside Electric Vehicles
Speaking
of recharging, we’re investing in charging stations out on the tarmac
to support the electrification of Brisbane Airport's fleet of airside
vehicles, 70% of which will be electric by 2026. This will not only
reduce emissions, but also reduce noise-providing a more comfortable
airport experience for passengers and workers employed on the tarmac.
Brisbane
Airport has committed to being net zero for scope 1 and 2 emissions by
2025 and has entered into a historic six-year agreement to secure
renewable energy from 2025.
Bussing Lounges
Brisbane
Airport is designing bussing lounges to provide passengers with smooth
bus transit to and from aircraft at remote parking bays. The bussing
lounges will be designed to:
- Expand capacity to accommodate more passengers during peaks
- Improve passenger comfort
- Travellers can save time that would otherwise be spent on lengthy walks
Domestic Terminal P2 Car Park Expansion
Since
the pandemic, more people are choosing to drive to the airport instead
of catching public transport or rideshare, meaning at peak times we are
close to running out of carparking space.
Expanding
the P2 car park will provide more options for passengers with 1,700
additional car spaces plus active transport storage for scooters and
bikes, sheltered from the elements, just a short walk to the terminal
and adjacent to the airport hotels.
