Visitor markets to Brisbane Airport see significant growth in August

An increase in traveller numbers from the United Arab Emirates (+71 per cent), Russia (+152 per cent), Eastern Europe (+36 per cent), South/Central America (+53 per cent) and Africa ( + 24 per cent) has contributed to a 2.7 per cent year-on-year increase in total passenger numbers through Brisbane Airport, with 1,844,267 passing through the Domestic and International Terminals in August.

In contrast to recent trends, the Japanese and South Korean visitor markets also showed growth for the month, with August being a peak holiday period (Obon) for the Japanese, and following the conclusion of World Expo in South Korea.

With Brisbane becoming well known as an ideal location for the conference and meeting market, over 6,000 delegates from 112 countries also flew in to attend the 34th International Geological Congress at the beginning of the month.

Looking ahead, Brisbane Airport welcomes the introduction of several international capacity increases including China Southern offering daily services to Brisbane from mid-December to the end of February 2013, and Etihad Airways adding four weekly flights to offer a daily flight to Abu Dhabi from February 2013.

Domestically, passenger volumes increased by nearly 4 per cent to 1,452,357 compared to August 2011, complemented by a 9.5 per cent rise in seat capacity from the previous year, with most seats being added on services on intrastate services.

During August, Tiger Airways also recommenced services between Brisbane and Sydney, while Virgin Australia launched return weekday services on the Brisbane-Mount Isa route mid-month.

Intrastate traffic remained strong, increasing by more than 10 per cent, compared to a 1.2 per cent increase in interstate city pair traffic growth.