Huge hike revealed for airfare prices if BNE Brisbane cap enforced: What you said

Queensland flight costs could be set to soar, a leading economist has warned, sparking a savage backlash. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Thousands of jobs would be lost across Queensland and plane ticket prices would soar if caps and curfews were introduced to Brisbane Airport, a leading economist has warned.

The Greens were planning to present proposed legislation to federal parliament seeking to restrict hourly aircraft movements and impose an overnight curfew at Brisbane Airport.

The proposal follows noise complaints from thousands of residents living underneath flight paths, however new economic data has laid bare the toll such measures would take on Queensland.

Previous modelling had forecast a $3 billion annual hit to the Queensland economy by the time of the 2032 Olympics, along with a dramatic cut in the number of flights, affecting some 250,000 passengers.

New data, from economist Nick Behrens of Queensland Economic Advocacy Solutions, warns regional centres such as Cairns, Townsville and Mackay would lose thousands of jobs by the year of the Brisbane Olympics.

Modelling showed more than 3500 jobs would be lost across regional Queensland within the next three years if a curfew and flight cap was imposed, with the number rising to almost 7000 within the next nine years.

Mr Behrens also predicted airfares, already a sore point among travellers to regional centres, would rise by an average of $102 (return) across the state, on top of any CPI or inflationary increases by 2032.

Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett said caps which limited the number of flights to regional centres would be devastating.

“Our community relies heavily on flights to Brisbane for medical appointments, business meetings and for interstate travel,” he said.

“Slashing flights will only drive-up ticket prices for regional Queenslanders.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation head of public affairs Stephen Beckett said capping flights would “cap Queensland’s prosperity”.

“This would have a catastrophic impact on jobs in regional cities and towns across Queensland because tourists can’t get in, and exports can’t get out,” he said.

“If you cap Brisbane Airport, it is a cap on Queensland jobs.

“This would be devastating for Queensland tourism – 75 per cent of international tourists to Queensland arrive via Brisbane Airport, and the loss of thousands of flights to regional Queensland would restrict the flow of visitors.”

A plane descends over Brisbane houses on its way to landing at Brisbane Airport. Picture: Liam Kidston

The issue has ignited passions on both sides of the debate, with Queensland Greens Senator Penny Allman-Payne telling The Courier-Mail the party would “use every opportunity to elevate community concerns about excessive flight noise and won’t let corporate propaganda go unchallenged”.

The Greens also want more flight paths redirected over Moreton Bay.

The proposal is unlikely to pass through parliament without significant support from Labor MPs, with some key figures already publicly voicing support for Brisbane Airport to operate free of caps and curfews.

In June, the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance tabled a petition to Queensland parliament complaining of “excessive noise pollution” from Brisbane Airport, with the petition garnering 3596 signatures.

The Queensland Economic Advocacy Solutions data was prepared for BAC using “analysis of passenger and flight forecasts, estimation of impact of cap and curfew on these forecasts and modelling of subsequent per passenger economic and employment impacts of these losses”.

BAC is working with Air Services Australia on proposed changes to flight paths and are also in talks with airline partners regarding measures including quieter, next generation aircraft.

Originally published as Huge hike revealed for airfare prices if BNE Brisbane cap enforced: What you said