Brisbane Airport Parking

Guide to Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport (BNE) is the main international airport serving Brisbane and South East Queensland. The third-busiest airport in Australia by aircraft movements, BNE services 26 airlines flying to 42 domestic and 28 international destinations in total, with over 22 million passengers travelling through the airport per year. In 2016, an OAG report named Brisbane Airport as the fifth-best performing large-sized airport in the world for on-time performance.

Location of Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport is located approximately nine miles (14 kilometres) northeast of the central business district in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Airport Drive and Moreton Drive link the airport with the Gateway Motorway.

Many transport links connect Brisbane Airport to the city and the central business district, including multiple bus services, such as the 369 and 590, as well as the Airtrain and convenient shuttle bus services. Taxis are also available from just outside the airport’s domestic and international terminals.  

History of Brisbane Airport

Brisbane’s first airport, built in 1925 on former agricultural land in the suburb of Eagle Farm, became inadequate for the size of the city and anticipated growth by the 1970s.

The Federal Government announced the construction of Brisbane Airport, which was to be built immediately north east of Eagle Farm Airport. It was constructed by Leighton Holdings and opened in 1988 with a new domestic terminal and two runways.

In 1995, the current international terminal opened and has since been expanded further. In 1997, as part of the privatisation of numerous Australian airports, the airport was acquired for $1.4 billion from the Federal Airports Corporation by Brisbane Airport Corporation, under a 50-year lease.

Car

If you are travelling by car from the north, you can take the M1 or M3 southbound and follow signs for the airport as you pass nearby towns such as Nudgee.

If you are travelling from the south, the M1 northbound is the key motorway providing access to the airport and is clearly marked with signposts for Brisbane Airport. You can also take the A7 and continue onto the M3 to reach the airport from this direction. Passengers driving from the west are advised to take the M5 and continue onto the M3, which will take you right up to Brisbane Airport.

Bus

Bus and shuttle services run regularly from Brisbane Airport to nearby areas and the Brisbane central business district. Con-X-ion Transfer shuttle buses meet every flight arriving into Brisbane Airport seven days a week, offering one-way or return ‘door-to-door’ coach services between the airport and Brisbane city, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Passengers can book transfers at the Con-X-ion customer service counter on level 2 of the International Terminal and at the Con-X-ion kerbside booth at the Domestic Terminal.

TransLink also coordinates and integrates public transport services in South East Queensland and provides many bus services to the airport precinct. Airport precinct services include the 369 to Toombul interchange and the 590 to Boronia Road and Skygate.

It is worth remembering that seeQ cards provide unlimited three- or five-day travel for adults and children across the TransLink network, including two journeys on Airtrain services to and from the Brisbane Domestic and International Airport terminals.

Train

The Airtrain at Brisbane Airport offers convenient services between BNE, Brisbane City and the Gold Coast, as well as transfers between the domestic and international terminals.

The Airtrain departs every 15 minutes during peak hours and runs between 5.04am and 10.04pm on weekdays and between 6.04am and 10.04pm on weekends. Kids aged 5-14 can travel free between the Airport and City stations when accompanied by a paying adult.

Taxi

Taxi ranks are conveniently located at both the international and domestic terminals of Brisbane Airport. At the domestic terminal, the taxi rank is located centrally in front of the terminal building and, at the international terminal, taxis can be found at the northern end of arrivals on level 2.

Both black and white cab and yellow cab taxi companies operate at the airport. A Brisbane Airport access fee applies to all pick-ups originating from the airport taxi rank. The passenger pays the access fee to the taxi driver and, as with all charges, may only be applied after the passenger has entered the taxi and the metre has started.

Bicycle

There is a designated inbound and outbound cycle route for Brisbane Airport. Directional signage is in place for cyclists, along with some advising motorists about the presence of cyclists in the area. Designated cycle routes to and from Brisbane Airport can be seen here.

Ensure you are comfortable

Customers have often complained that the seating in many areas of Brisbane Airport is uncomfortable, particularly since the airport has been modernised. Passengers should aim to find a seat in the comfier departure lounge or carry a travel pillow that can double-up as a cushion.

Bring along some warm clothing

If you are travelling through Brisbane Airport, particularly in the winter months, you must carry some warm clothing and a pair of gloves. BNE is notorious for being as cold inside as it is outside during winter, so do remember to dress for the weather and be prepared for low temperatures due to air-conditioning systems.

Get your currency before you fly

While it’s convenient to acquire your currency at the airport right before you fly, Brisbane Airport is known for having extremely high foreign exchange rates. To save yourself some money, get it changed at a post office prior to your trip rather than at the airport itself.

Purchase an Express Card

During the peak seasons and at peak times, Brisbane Airport can become overcrowded with queues snaking through its buildings. Buying an Express Card before you travel will help you check in quickly and, where possible, skip long queues that can result in missed connecting flights.

Make use of the parent rooms

Parent rooms at Brisbane Airport are safe and comfortable havens for passengers in need of a quiet environment in which to nurse, feed or simply be with their children. This airport can become busy and overcrowded and customers have often complained about a lack of comfortable seating, so the parent rooms are a must for those travelling with babies and toddlers.

Airport Facilities

Brisbane Airport has many useful and convenient facilities in place to help make your journey a smooth one. The broad selection of shops and eateries on offer at BNE is sure to keep you fed, watered and occupied, while ATMs, vending machines, charging stations, showers and smoking areas help towards a stress-free travel experience.

Facilities at BNE include:

• ATM machines

• Free WiFi

• Vending machines

• Mobile charging stations

• Parent rooms

• Payphones

• Prayer rooms

• Showers

• Smokers balcony

• Hot water station

• First aid facilities

• Currency exchange

• Visitor information centre

• Car rental facilities

• Short-stay parking

• Long-stay parking

• Drop-off zone

• Valet parking

• AirPark

• Disabled

• Toilets

• Disabled access

• Baby-changing facilities

• Shopping

  • Duty free

  • Pharmacy

  • Newsagents

  • Convenience stores

  • Fashion

  • Gifts

• Food

  • Fast food

  • Sandwich bar

  • Oriental restaurant

  • Family dining

• Drinks

  • Bar

  • Cafés

Relax with a massage

At Brisbane Airport, you can enjoy a deep tissue massage while you await your flight. Located at multiple destinations around the International and Domestic terminals as well as in the Skygate, massage chairs are the perfect way to kick back for a while. They provide four minutes of deep tissue Shiatsu massage therapy, which includes kneading, tapping and rolling across the back and shoulders. It can also be varied in strength via the digital control panel to suit your preference.

Shop ‘til you drop at Skygate

Skygate is located just 10 minutes from the Terminals at Brisbane Airport and is littered with bars, cafés, restaurants and the best in fashion outlet shopping. At the heart of Skygate, there is also a Discovery Centre that allows passengers to learn more about how Brisbane Airport operates. You can catch the free bus to Skygate from either terminal.

Unwind or get to work in the departure lounge

The departures lounge at Brisbane Airport has won awards for quality and comfort and, if you've got time to spare before your flight, you are well-advised to just relax on the plush sofas and watch some local television. However, with free WiFi and writing desks provided by the airport, you could just as easily catch up on a bit of work or even call a quick business meeting right there in departures.

Have a food court picnic

Brisbane Airport’s Service Centre is home to a food court that offers a wide variety of takeaway and dine-in options. If your travelling group can't decide on one place to eat, you could all grab what you fancy from the various snack outlets and fast food joints and meet in the seating area for your very own food court picnic. With flight information display screens providing up-to-date arrival and departure information, you can keep an eye on the time and also feed your social media habit with the food court's free WiFi.

Take home a boomerang, mate

The perfect place to pick up some quintessentially Australian treats, Brisbane Airport has many Aussie-themed outlets selling local produce and souvenirs. Take home a taste of Australia with a variety of local meats, beverages, nuts and honey or grab yourself some authentic, handcrafted indigenous products including soft Australian plush and locally-made boomerangs.