Brisbane Airport

Brisbane Airport is about 13 km northeast of the Brisbane CBD. The drive usually takes 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic, and the Airtrain express reaches Central, Roma Street and South Bank stations in about 20 minutes. Both terminals have road and rail access, so you can reach the city easily from either one.

Brisbane Airport has two passenger terminals: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. They are separate buildings about 4 km apart, each with its own Airtrain station, taxi rank and pick-up areas. Check your booking to see which terminal you use, as walking between them is not practical.

All international flights, including trans-Tasman and Pacific services, use the International Terminal. Domestic flights use the Domestic Terminal, where Qantas and QantasLink operate from the northern end, Virgin Australia from the southern end, and Jetstar and other carriers from the central area. Airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar use both terminals.

A free Airport Transfer Bus connects the terminals from 4am to 11pm daily, running every 10 minutes between 6am and 7pm and every 25 minutes at other times. You can also ride the Airtrain one stop for a fare or take a taxi from the official ranks. Allow extra time, since the terminals are about 4 km apart.

Yes. Airtrain stops at both terminals and runs to Brisbane city, reaching Central, Roma Street and South Bank in about 20 minutes. Trains run every 15 minutes in peak periods and every 30 minutes off-peak. The first train leaves around 5am on weekdays and 6am on weekends, and the last leaves around 10pm.

Official taxi ranks are directly outside both the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal and are marked with taxi signs. Join the queue at the rank rather than accepting rides offered inside the terminal. A taxi to the CBD takes roughly 15 to 25 minutes, depending on traffic and where you are going.

Yes, rideshare services such as Uber operate at Brisbane Airport from signposted pick-up zones at both terminals. At the Domestic Terminal the rideshare area is on the central road between the taxi rank and the passenger pick-up area, reached by two pedestrian crossings. Follow the rideshare signs after collecting your bags.

Except for New Zealand citizens, every visitor needs a visa or travel authority before flying, such as an ETA through the AustralianETA app or an eVisitor for many European passports. On arrival you declare food, plant and animal items on the Incoming Passenger Card. Selected Qantas flights let you complete the digital Australian Travel Declaration instead of the paper card.

The Gold Coast is about 75 minutes south by car, and taxis, rideshare and private transfers make the trip directly. Airtrain services also continue onto the Gold Coast line, where you can change to the G:link tram at Helensvale for Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. Scheduled shuttle coaches also run to Gold Coast hotels.

The Sunshine Coast lies about 100 km north of Brisbane, and there is no direct Airtrain service. Scheduled shuttle coaches leave from the airport, with check-in at the information counter, and taxis, rideshare and private transfers can drive you straight to Noosa, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba or Caloundra. Shared shuttles stop at several hotels along the way.

Brisbane uses Australian Eastern Standard Time, UTC+10, all year because Queensland does not observe daylight saving time. This puts it one hour behind Sydney and Melbourne from October to April. The currency is the Australian dollar (AUD). The climate is subtropical, with warm to hot weather for much of the year and a wetter summer.

Brisbane Airport is operated by Brisbane Airport Corporation. It handled almost 25 million passengers in 2025, up 5.3% on 2024, with international traffic growing faster than domestic. The airport has two parallel runways and opened on its current site in 1988, replacing the older Eagle Farm Airport nearby.