The Hon Anthony Albanese MP: Air passenger numbers expected to more than double by 2030

According to a new report being released today - Aircraft movements through capital city airports to 2029-30 - the number of people transiting through our capital city airports is predicted to increase by 140 per cent to 235 million by 2030.

However due to the availability of larger aircraft, the number of flights into and out of these airports is expected to increase by only 70 per cent to 1.7 million.

Annual passenger numbers are forecast to grow by:

* 4.9 per cent in Brisbane - reaching 51.2 million by 2029/30;

* 4.7 per cent in Perth - reaching 24.8 million by 2029/30;

* 4.4 per cent in Darwin - reaching 4.1 million by 2029/30;

* 4.2 per cent in Melbourne - reaching 57.7 million by 2029/30;

* 4 per cent in Sydney - reaching 72.9 million by 2029/30;

* 3.5 per cent in Adelaide - reaching 14.1 million by 2029/30;

* 3.5 per cent in Canberra - reaching 6.3 million by 2029/30;

* 3.5 per cent in Hobart - reaching 3.9 million by 2029/30; and

* 4.2 per cent across all eight capital city airports.

The biggest growth in passenger numbers will occur on routes into and out of Australia - encouraging news for the local tourism industry. Annual growth on these international routes is expected to be 5.3 per cent compared to 4 and 3.5 per cent on inter-capital and regional routes respectively.

Despite the global recession, the growth in the popularity of air travel is likely to quickly return to strong historic levels. That's why airport operators need to continue planning and investing for the future.

For our part we've recently published the Aviation White Paper - Flight Path to the Future - which gives industry the investment certainty they need while making sure nearby communities are properly consulted about developments on airport land.

A strong, vibrant aviation industry is vital to Australia's continued economic development.

A full copy of the report is available at: www.bitre.gov.au.

Aircraft movements through capital city airports to 2029-30 - Report [PDF 3.20 MB]