Brisbane Airport is set for a major capacity boost on land and in the air, with plans unveiled for two new hotels alongside an increase in international services to South-East Asia.
The new International Terminal hotel would be next to the Australian Federal Police building, near the terminal’s car park, while the Skygate hotel would be built on a car park adjacent to the existing Novotel.
The proposed mid- to upper-level hotel, with a multi-level car park, would be the first to directly service the International Terminal.
The second hotel, at Skygate, would be a mid-level hotel near the DFO, the 16-hectare Lander’s Pocket entertainment hub and Queensland’s only 24/7 Woolworths supermarket.
Proposals from hotel operators were due by May 15, with JLL Hotels and Hospitality leading the selection process.
Brisbane Airport executive general manager commercial Scott Norris said each location offered advantages for operators seeking to establish a presence at the airport.
“Location is everything and it doesn’t get more connected than being at the front door of Queensland’s busiest gateway,” he said.
“Brisbane Airport’s three current airport hotels are consistently at capacity, so there is no doubt there is demand for additional hotel rooms.
“Long-term, Brisbane requires thousands of new hotel rooms ahead of the 2032 Olympics and so we’re highly confident the airport can support five hotels.”
Norris said hundreds of passengers transited through the Brisbane Airport hub every night, before making connections the following day.
“Brisbane Airport links to more domestic destinations than anywhere else in Australia, allowing operators to tap into built-in, year-round demand that provides long-term value.”
The hotels’ business cases could be improved by news Malaysia Airlines was set to progressively increase its Brisbane services.
The airline has announced plans to add one additional flight each week from August 16, which would mean six flights a week, before ramping up to daily services on October 25.
Malaysia Airlines business chief executive Bryan Foong said the new flights would be serviced by Airbus A330neo aircraft.
“Our network expansion is guided by a clear focus on commercial sustainability and long-term value creation, ensuring we grow in markets where demand is both strong and resilient,” he said.
“Since the resumption of direct services between Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane, we have seen encouraging performance, with load factors averaging close to 90 per cent, positioning Brisbane as one of our standout routes in the region.”
