Australia BITRE forecasts air pax at airports to double to 279 million by FY2031

Australia's Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics estimates (13-Nov-2012) the number of air passenger movements through Australian capital and non-capital city airports will double to 279 million within the next two decades "largely due to a positive economic outlook for Australia and its trading partners". Passenger numbers are forecast to increase by 3.7% p/a over the forecast period, from 135.1 million in FY2011 to 279.2 million in FY2031. Domestic and international air passenger movements are projected to increase by 3.3% and 4.9% p/a over the same period to 207.1 million and 72.1 million respectively in FY2031. Passenger numbers are forecast to grow by:

• Sydney: +3.6% p/a to 72.0 million in FY2031;
• Melbourne: +3.9% to 60.4 million in 2030-31;
• Brisbane: +4.2% to 45.1 million in 2030-31;
• Adelaide: +3.1% to 13.5 million in 2030-31;
• Perth: +4.4% to 25.7 million in 2030-31;
• Hobart: +3.0% to 3.5 million in 2030-31;
• Darwin: +4.2% to 4.2 million in 2030-31;
• Canberra: +3.3% to 6.1 million in 2030-31;
• Newcastle: +3.1% to 2.2 million in 2030-31;
• Cairns: +3.7% to 8.0 million in 2030-31;
• Gold Coast: +4.4% to 13.1 million in 2030-31;
• Townsville: +3.7% to 3.4 million in 2030-31;
• Launceston: +2.7% to 2.0 million in 2030-31;
• All other airports: +2.3% to 20.1 million in 2030-31. [more - original PR]