Footy Finals Fuel Full Friday Flight Forecast (Bonus points for any journo who can say that on-air)

Footy finals and school holidays will see Brisbane Airport experience a post-pandemic record for the largest number of passengers through the Domestic Terminal. 
 

The record forecast is the result of: 
 

• The start of school holidays in New South Wales, ACT, NT and WA 
• Last minute booking for fans travelling the country for the footy feast (AFL, NRL, NRLW and the Brisbane Roar playing in Australian Cup)  
• Regular Friday rush of FIFO workers and business passengers. 

A record 59,571 people are forecast to travel through the Domestic Terminal, beating the post-pandemic record of 57,919 set on Easter Thursday last year (14 April, 2022). 
 
"Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba will be a sell-out tomorrow night and flights today are heading that way too. Flights between Melbourne and Brisbane are 98% full. The forecast is for almost 60-thousand people to pass through the Domestic Terminal today which is a post-pandemic record," according to Stephen Beckett, Head of Public Affairs. 
 
Thanks to the AFL Preliminary Final at The Gabba between the Brisbane Lions and Carlton, bookings between Melbourne and Sydney are solid. There are 41 flights from Melbourne to Brisbane today with capacity for 7305 passengers, including the Carlton football team.  
 
With the NRL Preliminary Final at Suncorp Stadium between the Broncos and Warriors, passenger numbers between New Zealand and Brisbane are also up. A total of 10 flights will touch down with capacity for 2136 passengers, with flights 95% full.  
 
The Broncos NRLW team is on the move to Newcastle, with the Broncos the only club to have both teams still in the competition. 
 
"BNE is humming as visitors come for the festival of footy and an early taste of Summer, and when Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is busy. 
 
"Passengers should arrive 90 minutes before their domestic flight, especially on Sunday morning if they’ve had a big night at The Gabba and Suncorp Stadium the night before. Don’t leave the rush too late, and make sure you book rideshare and taxis in advance. 
 
"Passengers for international flights should arrive 3 hours prior for overseas travel, so that you build in a buffer to cope with busy roads, parking, terminals or delays to your taxi or rideshare."