Because airport projects change, a guide to what exists and what is planned needs careful dating. This article reports only what the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) pages said on 10 November 2026, names each page and the “Changed” date it displays, and does not reconcile anything with outside sources. Project status, timing and scale can change, so check the pages directly before relying on any line below. For getting to and from the airport, see Brisbane Airport to the City: Your Options.
What exists today
At 10 November 2026, Brisbane Airport Corporation’s “About BAC” page (changed 2 July 2026) says BAC, the operator of Brisbane Airport (BNE), is a private, unlisted Queensland company. At 10 November 2026, the “Quick Facts” page (changed 2 September 2026) says Brisbane Airport operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At 10 November 2026, the same quick facts page says the airport has direct connections to 32 international destinations and 62 domestic destinations. At 10 November 2026, that page also says BNE is a suburb in its own right and the third-largest airport in Australia by passenger numbers.
At 10 November 2026, the “Domestic Terminal Precinct” page (changed 2 July 2026) says passengers with carry-on luggage can now walk directly from the car park, along the Skywalk into the new screening point. At 10 November 2026, the “International Terminal Precinct” page (changed 2 July 2026) says a new screening point on Level 4 has been delivered, fitted out with the latest Standard 3 passenger and carry-on baggage screening equipment.
The runway that was already built
At 10 November 2026, the page on Brisbane’s new runway under “Completed projects” (changed 2 July 2026) says the runway, now called the Western Runway, was one of the largest aviation construction projects undertaken in Australia. At 10 November 2026, that page’s fast facts give the timing as 2012 to 2020. At 10 November 2026, the same fast facts give the investment as $1.1 billion. At 10 November 2026, the page says the major stages of construction were completed in mid-2020.
At 10 November 2026, that page also says it has been estimated by 2035 the western runway will lead to the creation of 7,800 new jobs and contribute an additional $5 billion in annual economic benefit to the region. That is an estimate stated by BAC on its own page and is not checked here.
The Future BNE program
At 10 November 2026, the “Future BNE projects” page (changed 16 October 2026) says BAC is investing over $5 billion in sustainable, transformational infrastructure. At 10 November 2026, the same page says Future BNE is not one project. At 10 November 2026, the page says a direct Skywalk entrance to the terminal, upgraded screening equipment and more car parks have already been delivered at the Domestic Terminal Precinct.
Domestic Terminal
At 10 November 2026, the Domestic Terminal Precinct page (changed 2 July 2026) says construction continues on a new centralised baggage system that will replace the three separate systems installed in the 1980s.
International Terminal
At 10 November 2026, the International Terminal Precinct page (changed 2 July 2026) says work is continuing at the International Terminal, including relocation of passport control to Level 4. At 10 November 2026, that page says the retail stores, including food outlets, will be overhauled, including an expanded duty-free experience. At 10 November 2026, the same page describes the retail project as the most significant retail upgrade to the terminal since its opening in 1995. At 10 November 2026, it also says the International Terminal Baggage System will be upgraded with modern technology, new bag screening equipment and fresh conveyor belts.
Terminal 3 and the broader precinct
At 10 November 2026, the “Broader Airport Precinct” page (changed 2 July 2026) says BAC is planning a third terminal to meet future population and travel demand in the 2030s. At 10 November 2026, that page says Brisbane Airport is progressively replacing 20 aerobridges, improving accessibility and reliability for passengers across both terminals by 2029. At 10 November 2026, the same page says BAC is installing common-use charging stations to accommodate a wide range of electric ground service vehicles.
At 10 November 2026, the Broader Airport Precinct page lists an Aeromedical Precinct, which it describes as a world-class aeromedical precinct connecting regional Queenslanders with life-saving medical care in Brisbane. At 10 November 2026, the Future BNE projects page (changed 16 October 2026) carries a news item saying construction of the Aeromedical Precinct has reached the halfway mark.
Master plan and approvals
At 10 November 2026, the “Current Master Plan” page (changed 30 July 2026) says the 2026 Master Plan was approved by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, on 15 June 2026. At 10 November 2026, that page lists three themes in its highlights: balancing aviation growth with community, improving the airport transport network and connectivity, and advocating for more multi-modal transport options. The numeric highlights on that page, such as passenger and jobs figures, did not appear in the page text as read and are therefore not reported here.
At 10 November 2026, the “Major Development Plans” page (changed 2 July 2026) says BAC is required to develop a Major Development Plan (MDP) before undertaking what section 89 of the Airports Act 1996 defines as major airport development. At 10 November 2026, that page says draft Major Development Plans then undergo public consultation before being submitted to the Commonwealth Minister. At 10 November 2026, the page says that on 10 October 2024 the Minister approved a Minor Variation to the Major Development Plan for the Aeromedical Base. At 10 November 2026, the same page says that on 16 December 2024 the Minister acknowledged the withdrawal of the Major Development Plan for the BNE Auto Mall at Brisbane Airport.
How to read these statuses
This article treats every status above as true only on the date written beside it. A reader planning travel should check the Brisbane Airport website for the current position of each project. For wider travel context, see Cross River Rail Explained: What It Is and How It Will Change Brisbane Travel.
Frequently asked questions
How many destinations does Brisbane Airport connect to directly?
At 10 November 2026, the Brisbane Airport quick facts page (changed 2 September 2026) says the airport has direct connections to 32 international destinations and 62 domestic destinations.
Is a third terminal planned at Brisbane Airport?
At 10 November 2026, the Broader Airport Precinct page (changed 2 July 2026) says BAC is planning a third terminal to meet future population and travel demand in the 2030s. The page is not a timetable, and this article gives no dates beyond it.
When did the Western Runway open and what did it cost?
At 10 November 2026, the Brisbane Airport page on its new runway (changed 2 July 2026) gives the project timing as 2012 to 2020 and the investment as $1.1 billion, and says major stages of construction were completed in mid-2020, ready for the runway to be officially opened on Sunday 12 July 2020.
What approvals do airport developments need?
At 10 November 2026, the Major Development Plans page (changed 2 July 2026) says BAC is required to develop a Major Development Plan before undertaking what section 89 of the Airports Act 1996 defines as major airport development, and that drafts then undergo public consultation before being submitted to the Commonwealth Minister.
