Brisbane Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Brisbane Airport
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =

---

image-width = 85
caption2 = The Front of the International Terminal
IATA = BNE
ICAO = YBBN
type = Public
owner =
operator = Brisbane Airport Corporation Pty Limited
city-served = Brisbane
location = Brisbane, Queensland
elevation-f = 13
elevation-m = 4
coordinates = Coord|27|23|00|S|153|07|05|E|type:airport|display=inline
website = [http://www.bne.com.au/ www.bne.com.au]
metric-rwy = Yes
r1-number = 01/19
r1-length-f = 11,680
r1-length-m = 3,560
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 14/32
r2-length-f = 5,577
r2-length-m = 1,700
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year = 2007-2008
stat1-header = Passengers
stat1-data = 18,523,979
stat2-header =
stat2-data =
footnotes = Source: Australian AIP at [http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/publications/current/ersa/FAC_YBBN_7-Jun-2007.pdf FAC]

Brisbane Airport Airport codes|BNE|YBBN is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Sydney and Melbourne airports. Located in the suburb with the same name, [citeweb|title=Brisbane Airport Corporation Limited |url=http://www.brisbaneairport.com.au/content/standard.asp?name=ContactUs|publisher=brisbaneairport.com.au|accessdate=2008-03-18] the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding areas. It is a hub for Virgin Blue and a secondary hub for both Qantas and its low cost subsidiary, Jetstar.

The airport has international and domestic passenger terminals, a cargo terminal, and two runways. Brisbane Airport is accessible from the central business district by the Gateway Motorway and the Airtrain rail service, which is linked to the Citytrain suburban network. The new Airport Link motorway is planned to connect the Brisbane CBD and airport.

The airport was awarded the IATA Eagle Award in 2005, the second of only two Australian airports to receive such award. [ [http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/2005-05-30-02 IATA Eagle Awards for Airservices Australia, Changi and Brisbane Airports ] ] In July 2007 Brisbane Airport was voted as the best airport in the Australia-Pacific region in the 2008 Skytrax World Airport Awards. [cite web
url=http://www.bne.com.au/content/mediapopup.asp?name=Media_30_07_2008
title=Brisbane Airport - Passengers vote Brisbane best airport
date=30/07/2008
publisher=www.bne.com.au
accessdate=2008-09-15]

History

Due to its flat surface, Eagle Farm, originally a farming area, was announced as an aerodrome in 1925.cite web
url=http://www.bne.com.au/content/infopopup.asp?name=Community_04_AHistoryOfBrisbaneAirport
title=Brisbane Airport - A history of Brisbane Airport
publisher=www.bne.com.au
accessdate=2008-09-15] Although Qantas started operations there in 1926, most of the flights in Brisbane operated at the Archerfield Airport, which contained a superior landing surface. While in operation, Charles Kingsford Smith, landed there on June 9, 1928, after completing the first trans-pacific flight in his Fokker F.VII, the Southern Cross. [cite web
url=http://home.worldonline.nl/~lbb/smith.htm
title=Famous Fokker Flights: Kingsford-Smith and the "Southern Cross"
publisher=home.worldonline.nl
accessdate=2008-09-15] There is now a museum containing the original aircraft, along with a memorial.

During the Second World War, Brisbane was the headquarters of the Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the South West Pacific Area, General Douglas MacArthur. The United States armed forces considerably upgraded the airfield to cater for military flights, bringing to such a standard, it became the main civilian airport for the city.

By the 1970s it was clear that the facilities at Eagle Farm were inadequate for a city of Brisbane's size and anticipated growth. The Federal Government announced the construction of a new airport to be built immediately north of Eagle Farm. The new airport was built by Leighton Holdings and opened in 1988. [citeweb|title=Leighton Holdings History
url=http://www.leighton.com.au/about_us/history/history.html
publisher=leighton.com.au
accessdate=2008-03-18] [citeweb|title=Welcome_to_Squawk_Ident|url=http://www.adastron.com/squawkid/sqintro.htm|publisher=adastron.com|accessdate=2008-03-18] The new airport was built on the former Brisbane residential suburb of Cribb Island that was demolished to make way for the airport. Large amounts of sand were pumped from nearby Moreton Bay to bring much of the swampy land above the range of tides.

As part of the privatisation of numerous Australian airports, the airport was acquired from the Federal Airports Corporation on a 99 year lease by a consortium of governmental and financial interests led by Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which now holds the management contract for the facility. In line with Schiphol's overall policy, Brisbane Airport is now at the heart of a master-planned "Airport City" development. ^{[http://www.airportmetropolis.qut.com]} The airport is also a partner in the Australia TradeCoast economic development zone.

Development projects

International terminal expansion

Brisbane Airport commenced a $340 million dollar expansion in October, 2006 of the International Terminal, to be completed by the end of 2008. The expansion of the terminal will feature:

*A new multi-level undercover carpark.
*Additional arrival facilities
*Additional check-in facilities.
*Expanded apron area on the northern side of the facility.
*Increased comfort for passengers throughout the terminal.
*Two extra baggage claim carousels to make a total of 9.
*Two new aircraft gates capable of handling the Airbus A380 aircraft. The two new gates will have the ability to either handle one wide-body aircraft per gate or two narrow body-aircraft per gate.
*Will increase the number of retailers to 56.

Domestic terminal expansion

Brisbane Airport will commence a $350 million dollar expansion of the domestic terminal late in 2008.cite web
url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23391160-3102,00.html
title=Brisbane airport to level out departures
work=The Courier-Mail
date=March 18, 2008
author=Peter Morley
accessdate=2008-09-15] Highlights include the introduction of a new check-in hall on the upper level (as what is featured in Sydney and Melbourne domestic terminals), an expansion of the common use satellite which will result in an extra 7 gates, an expansion of the terminal to the north (which will provide more gate and lounge space), construction of another multi-level carpark and a central energy plant. [ [http://www.bne.com.au/files/pdf/MDP_Brisbane%20Domestic%20Terminal%20Expansion.pdf Brisbane Airport: Brisbane Domestic Terminal Expansion] ] The expansion of the terminal is scheduled for completion by late 2010.

New parallel runway

On 18 September 2007, the federal government granted approval for the construction of a new runway at Brisbane airport. The proposed $1 billion new runway would take approximately eight years to construct and would generate about 2,700 jobs. The 3,600-metre runway would operate parallel to the existing north/south runway.

Proposals to build a parallel runway eventually (when it is necessary) have been the subject of controversy led by some local politicians. This was a key element of the airport's Master Plan, approved by the Australian Government in 2003. Under Federal Law, developments at major privatised Australian airports do not require approval by local or state planning authorities. [citeweb|title=Airports Act 1996|url=http://bar.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/aa1996129/|publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute
accessdate=2008-03-18]

The business case for new parallel runway [citeweb|title=New Parallel Runway EIS/MDP|url=http://www.newparallelrunway.com.au/content/standard1.asp?name=EISMDP|publisher=Brisbane Airport Corporation
accessdate=2008-08-28] was based on the premise of continuing growth in air traffic demand and assumed low fuel prices into the future. Criticisms of these assumptions [citeweb|title=Oil Depletion and the New Parallel Runway |url=http://www.aspo-australia.org.au/References/ASPO-Qld/McCarthy-Brisbane-Airport.doc|publisher=ASPO-Australia
accessdate=2008-08-28] have already been been vindicated by cutbacks on the part of numerous airlines in response to increasing fuel prices. Despite approval from the Federal Government, Brisbane Airport Corporation has not announced when construction will commence and the future of the project remains in doubt.

Road infrastructure

To help relieve congestion between Brisbane and the Airport, the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, and a Leighton's/Macquarie Bank consortium are constructing the longest tunnel in Australia (over 8km; 6 lanes) from the ICB, North South Bypass Tunnel Interchange (the 2nd longest tunnel in Australia) to an improved Gateway Overpass which will lead on to Airport Drive, cutting 16 sets of traffic lights.

BAC is also constructing a five kilometre, multi-lane road will provide airport users and tenants with a second major access route to the terminals and on-airport businesses. The road is intended to be a secondary link to and from airport and is to relieve congestion on Airport Drive. It is due to be completed in mid-2009.

Airport Drive congestion

Recently, traffic congestion has increased on the link known as Airport Drive. At the current stage, motorists may have to wait in traffic for up to 45 minutes to just enter the Airport Arterial Road.Fact|date=May 2008

A government endorsed rat run has been used to aid the congestion at the Airport Drive/Gateway Motorway during peak traffic periods by giving an alternative route to Airport Drive via Sugarmill Road and Lomandra Drive. $2 million dollars has been put aside to upgrade the Lomandra Drive end of Sugarmill Road, and is due for completion in 2010. Fact|date=May 2008 [citeweb|title=Brisbane Airport welcomes Sugarmill Rd upgrade|url=http://www.transportweekly.com/pages/en/news/articles/49554/|publisher=transportweekly.com|accessdate=2008-03-18]

Due to the installation of traffic lights on the Airport Drive/Gateway roundabout, travel times from the airport to the city have now been increased by 30 minutes, and added approx AU$15 to the cost of a taxi fare. [citeweb|title=Airport roundabout outrage|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/airport-roundabout-outrage/2007/10/24/1192941149628.html|publisher=brisbanetimes.com.au|accessdate=2008-03-18]

Operations

Brisbane, along with Sydney Airport, Melbourne Airport and Perth Airport, are having terminal modifications to accommodate the new Airbus A380, The A380 first arrived at Brisbane on November 14, 2005. Brisbane Airport's annual passenger numbers are expected to reach more than 25.6 million by 2015 and around 50 million by 2035. [cite web
url=http://www.investqueensland.com.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml_iq.cfm?id=31016
title=Sophisticated infrastructure
publisher=Invest Queensland
accessdate=2008-09-15]

Brisbane Centre

The Brisbane FIR consists of New South Wales north of Sydney, all of Queensland, most of the Northern Territory and the northern half of Western Australia. It also contains the Australian Tasman Sea airspace. Brisbane Centre is located adjacent to Brisbane Tower at Brisbane Airport. It also contains Brisbane Approach.

Due to the nature of the airspace it controls most international flights in and out of Australia (except Indian Ocean flights), and domestic flights operating to airports within the FIR. From Brisbane Centre, Airservices Australia manages the airspace over the northern half of Australia, representing 5 per cent of the world’s total airspace. [cite web
url=http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aboutus/facilities/centres/brisbanecentre.asp
title=Airservices Australia: Brisbane Centre
publisher=www.airservicesaustralia.com
accessdate=2008-09-15] As only two of eight capitals are located in the Brisbane FIR, it handles a lesser volume of traffic than Melbourne Centre. However, Sydney is on the border of the two FIRs, and thus Brisbane Centre has control of flights arriving or departing in Sydney from the North.

Approved/Proposed Service Increases

* Emirates Airline - 2nd daily non-stop service to Dubai from February 2, 2009 [ [http://www.aviationrecord.com/search-results.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=945 Emirates to double Brisbane-Dubai service > AviationRecord > Search Results ] ]
* Etihad Airways - Considering increasing BNE services, however a timeframe has not been given [ [http://www.gulfnews.com/business/Aviation/10200962.html Gulfnews: Etihad plans flights to ex-Soviet states ] ]
* Cathay Pacific - Increase in services to Brisbane from 7 to 10 flights weekly [cite web
url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24170600-23349,00.html
title=Cathay Pacific opens more Australian routes
work=The Australian
author=Steve Creedy
date=August 13, 2008
accessdate=2008-09-21]
* EVA Air - 2 new weekly seasonal services between 01DEC08 and 31JAN09, bring total weekly services to 5 [http://eservice.evaair.com/online/html/global/Asi0a201_E.asp]
* Qantas - a new Tuesday service to Mt. Isa [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/10/2360710.htm] and also an extra weekly service to Karratha on Thursdays [http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2008/aug08/3804]
* QantasLink - reintroduction of previously cancelled flights to Rockhampton & Gladstone [http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2008/aug08/3798]
* SkyAirWorld - introduction of a new Thursday Brisbane-Cloncurry service, bringing total number of services to 4 [http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=82920&nav=2]

Prospective Airlines and/or Routes

*Air Canada - Considering commencing services to Brisbane, timeframe indeterminate [cite web
url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22804201-23349,00.html
title=Canada joins Australia's open air route view
work=The Australian
date=November 23, 2007
publisher=www.theaustralian.news.com.au
accessdate=2008-09-15]
* Viva Macau - Expressed interest in operating services to Brisbane or Melbourne [http://www.aviationrecord.com/news-articles.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=215]
* Jetstar Airways - Has shown interest in operating a service from Brisbane to Kuala Lumpur [http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/18/business/20347165&sec=business]

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate services to Brisbane Airport using their own aircraft. Many others operate services as codeshares. [ [http://www.bne.com.au/content/standard_v4.asp?name=Airlines Brisbane Airport - Airline Contacts ] ]

ee also

*List of Australian airports
*Transport in Australia

References

External links

*WAD|YBBN
* [http://www.brisbaneairport.com.au/ Brisbane Airport official website]
* [http://www.airportretail.com.au Brisbane Airport Retail Management Division]
* [http://www.newparallelrunway.com.au Information about the new newparallel runway]