Adelaide Airport breaks passenger records and upgrades infrastructure to support its Network Vision

Adelaide Airport has achieved its highest-ever passenger traffic for the 2025 financial year, welcoming more than 8.7 million travellers through the terminal. The airport is now on track to significantly expand its international connectivity, supported by a strong pipeline of recent and upcoming route launches.

In a landmark development, United Airlines will introduce Adelaide’s first-ever non-stop flights to the United States, with three weekly services to San Francisco on the Boeing 787-9 aircraft beginning in December 2025.

Air New Zealand recently launched non-stop flights between Adelaide and Christchurch, the airport’s first connection to its sister city. At the same time, Qantas re-entered the international market from Adelaide for the first time since 2013, with four weekly flights to Auckland.

Cathay Pacific is set to resume services in November 2025 using its A350-900 aircraft, featuring its acclaimed Premium Economy cabin, while China Southern Airlines will return in December 2025 with an extended operating period and more frequent flights than before.

Emirates will debut its first long-range A350 aircraft in Adelaide from December 2025, making the South Australian capital the global launch destination for the aircraft type.

Furthermore, Malaysia Airlines will increase its Adelaide – Kuala Lumpur service from five to seven weekly flights from February 2026, also introducing its brand-new A330neo on the route.

Indonesia AirAsia, Adelaide’s first non-stop Asia-based low-cost carrier since 2015, commenced direct services to Bali in June 2025, while Fiji Airways increased its presence from two to three weekly services in April 2025.

Infrastructure enhancements supporting growth

Adelaide Airport is preparing for the next phase of its infrastructure upgrade programme, designed to deliver the capacity needed to support its 2050 Aviation Network Vision.

This transformative initiative includes expanding the southern end of the check-in hall to increase capacity and improve passenger flow, enhancing both the northern and southern terminal areas, adding more aircraft parking positions and upgrading security screening systems to meet new regulatory requirements.

Further improvements within the terminal will feature a new international departures gate, a family play space, a sensory room for passengers with hidden disabilities and upgraded gate lounges throughout the terminal.

Jonathan Cheong, Head of Aviation Business Development and Commercial at Adelaide Airport, said: “We are incredibly grateful and thankful that both our existing and prospective airline partners continue to grow their networks by choosing Adelaide. Our Network Vision 2050 sets an ambition to connect Adelaide to 39 international destinations by 2050. Together with our airline partners, we are building a future that strengthens tourism, trade, education, business events, conferences, and freight. It is about making connections – Seamless. Connected. Easy.”