Airports from Bairnsdale to Brisbane and Cairns to Karratha were recognised for standout innovation, sustainability and community impact at the 2025 Australian Airports Association (AAA) National Airport Industry Awards on the Gold Coast.
The award ceremony closed out the Australian Airports Association (AAA) National Conference & Industry Expo, held from 1-4 December at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event, the AAA’s biggest ever, brought together a record number of attendees and more than 100 speakers under the themes of accessibility, connectivity, safety, and sustainability.
Six airports claimed the highest accolades in their class, with Melbourne Airport (MEL) named Capital City Airport of the Year for its pioneering accessibility initiative, Melbourne Airport Assist.
The pilot program, now permanent, supported over 8,400 travellers during an 18-week trial, offering proactive kerb-to-gate assistance. The launch of the world’s first Online Mobility Hub further underscored the airport’s commitment to inclusive travel.
Other winners included Cairns Airport (CNS) for Major Airport of the Year, reflecting its position as Australia’s fastest-growing international market in 2024, with 760,000 international passengers. The airport’s sustainability focus and network growth strategy earned it high praise.
Parafield Airport, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, took Metro Airport of the Year after achieving Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 4 and receiving fast-track Master Plan approval. Karratha Airport (KTA), Newcastle Airport (NTL), Tennant Creek Airport (TCA), and Bairnsdale Airport (BSJ) also won awards across regional categories for diverse projects ranging from sustainability overhauls to emergency service upgrades.
What innovations were recognised this year?
Brisbane Airport (BNE) picked up multiple awards, notably the Innovation Award for deploying solar-powered robotic mowers to autonomously manage 919 hectares of airside grass. The initiative reduces fuel use, emissions, and wildlife risks, addressing both environmental and aviation safety needs.
BNE also won in the Commercial category for its AI-powered e-commerce strategy, blending automation, customer insights, and omnichannel marketing to enhance the traveller experience.
Melbourne Airport scored again in the Operations category, recognised for its complex Substation 3 electrical upgrade. Executed over 48 nights, the project ensured uninterrupted 24/7 airport operations while migrating all critical systems to a new electrical hub—a feat likened to “performing heart surgery during a marathon”.
Who’s leading the way in sustainability?
Newcastle Airport’s $110 million terminal expansion helped it win both the Infrastructure and Sustainability Awards. The redevelopment doubled the terminal size and added aerobridges, inclusive features and a 5-Star Green Star Design rating. In October 2025, it welcomed its first international flights from the new terminal to Bali, reinforcing its regional and global connectivity.
Newcastle also became Australia’s first airport to reach Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 4, achieving Net Zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions six years ahead of its 2030 target through a mix of renewable power and nature-based offsets.
Darwin International Airport (DRW) received the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Award for its Indigenous Training Academy, which achieved a 100 per cent graduate employment rate and lifted Indigenous employment to nearly four times the national average.
What about standout projects and people?
In the corporate project space, Fulton Hogan took out awards for upgrades at Whyalla and Sunshine Coast airports. Downer and GHD were also celebrated for their delivery of Hobart Airport’s $130 million airfield upgrade, completed without flight disruptions.
A rising star of the night was Alex Ho, winner of the Emerging Airport Leader Award. Now a key operations team member at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Ho’s pathway from a school visit in Hong Kong to an engineering degree at Queensland University of Technology exemplifies the industry’s next-gen talent.
For more information, head to: www.airports.asn.au
