Brisbane Airport hit the trifecta during its centenary year, with its busiest year, month and day on record.
The airport’s 100th year was its busiest on record, with 25 million passengers passing through its terminals in 2025
This was pushed by a 10.7% increase in international passengers and 3.2% rise in domestic passengers.
Brisbane Airport also recorded its busiest month ever in December with 2.3 million passengers travelling through the airport. There was a 7% jump in overall passengers, 10.1% rise in international passenger and 5.6% increase in domestic travellers.
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said the record-breaking month would be followed by a busy start to 2026.
“January 2026 has also started solidly, and February is shaping up to be strong as well, with Lunar New Year celebrations boosting passenger numbers and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Suncorp Stadium drawing in even more visitors,” de Graff said.
He also said this was helped along by new security screening checkpoints, making it easier for passengers to travel through the airport.
“In December, we opened new security screening points in both the domestic and international terminals, and passengers are experiencing the convenience of being able to keep items like laptops in their bags,” he said.
De Graff said the airport also “smashed” its daily record in the International terminal set in 2020, with 26,11 international passengers on 20 December 2025.
He said these numbers were promising in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“That kind of jump in passenger numbers demonstrates the momentum building at Brisbane Airport and mirrors the momentum building right across South East Queensland as the clock counts down to 2032,” de Graff said.
International numbers are also set to be boosted by the return of Malaysia Airlines to Brisbane and Jetstar launching Australia’s only flight to Cebu in the Philippines.
The airport also hit its busiest day ever in the domestic terminals, with 64,015 passengers on 6 October as a result of the National Rugby League Grand Final featuring the Brisbane Broncos.
Looking forward to the future, de Graff said there would be plenty of upgrades to the airport.
Similarly, Melbourne Airport broke its record for its busiest month ever in December, boosted by an increase in international passengers and expects a busy start to the new year.
