Brisbane’s domestic traffic showing signs of recovery
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Brisbane Airport (BNE) is set to welcome more than 30,000 daily passengers tomorrow for the first time since March 16, declaring the milestone a clear sign that domestic travel is recovering.
Specifically, on Friday, the airport’s Domestic Terminal will see more than 16,000 arrivals and 14,000 departing passengers from a total of 309 flights.
Off the back of interstate borders re-opening, BNE reveals that there has been a significant week-on-week increase in interstate passenger volumes, jumping from 118,008 total passengers during the week commencing November, 23 to 155,875 during the week commencing November 30.
While there have been significant increases, average daily domestic passenger numbers are still down 55% when compared to the same time last year.
Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of operator, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), said the last few weeks show there has been pent-up demand for travel with airlines putting on additional capacity.
“After what has been an incredibly slow and challenging year for Brisbane Airport and the wider aviation industry, it is a most welcome sight to see the Domestic Terminal spring back to life,” he enthused.
“We still have some way to go before we reach complete recovery of our domestic network, but the last few weeks have shown Australians are ready and willing to explore our beautiful state and country once more.
“I commend the public for their commitment to travelling safely, using hand sanitisers and distancing whenever possible. Everyone has an obligation to do everything they can to protect each other’s health. This is what will allow us all to keep travelling.
“I assure all travellers that health safety remains at the forefront of everything we do at Brisbane Airport.”
Since the border re-opening to Greater Sydney and Victoria, Sydney and Melbourne flights have jumped to top position in popularity at BNE.
Sydney flights are up fivefold from an average of 5 to 26 per day (more than 180 per week) while Melbourne is increasing tenfold from two to 20 flights per day.
The Brisbane Airport domestic network also remains Australia’s largest, with connections to 50 cities and regional centres across Australia, providing critical and unique links to Queensland regional cities to key interstate markets.