Brisbane Airport: Australia's Newest Parallel Runway

Getting there, at a glance

Amenities, at a glance

Brisbane Airport (IATA: BNE) is Australia’s third-busiest airport and the main gateway to Queensland, including the nearby Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. BNE handled 23.1 million passengers in 2024, a 7.4% increase on 2023. It sits about 13 km (8 mi) northeast of the Brisbane CBD.

Overview

BNE operates separate domestic and international terminals connected by a free shuttle bus. Its standout recent development is the New Parallel Runway, opened in 2020 — one of the most modern runway systems in the Southern Hemisphere, roughly doubling the airport’s overall capacity and enabling genuinely independent simultaneous operations rather than the more limited setups at many older Australian airports.

Terminals

• Domestic Terminal: Qantas, Virgin Australia, and other domestic carriers.
• International Terminal: International flights across Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and beyond.

The two terminals are about 2 km apart and connected by a free shuttle bus — not walkable, so budget transfer time if you’re connecting between them.

Airlines

Qantas and Virgin Australia both maintain a significant presence at BNE for domestic routes, while a growing roster of international carriers connects Brisbane to Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. BNE’s role as the main gateway to Queensland’s tourist destinations — the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in particular — makes it a key arrival point for both business and leisure travelers.

How to Get There

• Airtrain: AU$21 one-way, a dedicated train line running direct to the Brisbane city center in about 22 minutes — the fastest and most predictable option.
• Taxi: Typically AU$45–55 to the CBD, about 20–25 minutes depending on traffic.
• Uber: Generally comparable in price to a taxi, about 20–25 minutes.

Prices above are indicative and can change — always check current fares with Airtrain or your ride-hailing app.

Getting Through Security and Passport Control

• Domestic flights: Security only. Typically 15–20 minutes off-peak, up to 25–35 minutes during busy periods.
• International flights: Security plus passport control (or SmartGates for eligible passport holders). Typically 25–35 minutes off-peak, up to 40–60 minutes at peak.
• BNE is generally efficient by international standards, and SmartGates speed up processing considerably for eligible travelers on arrival.

Parking

Both terminals have adjacent short- and long-stay car parks. Pre-booking online is notably cheaper than the walk-up rate.

Wifi

Free wifi is available across the terminals with a time-limited free session.

Best Times to Arrive

• Domestic flights: 90 minutes before departure is typically enough.
• International flights: Arrive 3 hours ahead, especially for evening long-haul departures.
• Since the domestic and international terminals are about 2 km apart, budget real transfer time via the free shuttle if you’re connecting between them — it’s not a quick walk.

Where to Eat

BNE reflects Queensland’s strong coffee culture and produce well, with a solid mix of local and international dining spread across both terminals.

Airport Hotel

The Pullman Brisbane Airport is about a 5-minute walk from the domestic terminal — not directly connected, but genuinely close, with a restaurant and bar on-site. An airport-precinct shuttle also loops between it, the nearby ibis and Novotel, and both terminals from 4am to 9am daily.

Lounges

• Qantas Club lounges are available in the domestic terminal, accessible with eligible tickets, elite status, or membership.
• Several Priority Pass-affiliated lounges are also available, mainly in the international terminal.

Duty-Free Shopping

BNE’s duty-free selection includes Australian specialties — wine and macadamia products — alongside the usual international fashion and electronics brands, concentrated in the international terminal’s departures area.

Airport Map

This is a simplified layout to help you get oriented — for real-time, gate-by-gate wayfinding, use Brisbane Airport’s official resources.

Useful Links

• Official airport site (Brisbane Airport) — terminal info, services, live flight status.
• Airtrain — tickets and schedules.

Long Layover Tips

• With 5+ hours and a visa situation permitting entry, central Brisbane is reachable via Airtrain in about 22 minutes — the South Bank precinct and riverside walks are a good use of a shorter stopover.
• If staying airside, the international terminal has the better mix of lounges and dining for a longer wait.
• Since BNE is also the main gateway to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, double-check whether your final destination actually requires a connecting flight or ground transport onward from Brisbane — some travelers assume BNE serves the Gold Coast directly, but it has its own separate airport (OOL).