What’s happening?
Mackay has retained its position as Queensland’s busiest regional corporate travel route, as business travel into regional centres continues to climb.
New booking data from FCM Travel shows Brisbane to Mackay remained the top regional route by volume in the final quarter of 2025.
The same data shows Rockhampton recorded the strongest growth, with business bookings from Brisbane rising 34 per cent year on year. Townsville also posted solid gains, with bookings up 17 per cent.
The figures track corporate travel departing Brisbane Airport and point to growing demand for regional Queensland destinations.
The rise follows the Queensland Government’s launch of the Destination 2045 Strategy in June 2025, which committed more than $1 billion over four years to aviation, regional events, and tourism infrastructure.
Why it matters
The data shows a shift in the profile of corporate travel into regional Queensland.
Accommodation and food services entered FCM’s top five industries for corporate travel in Q4 2025, indicating stronger demand linked to events, meetings, and hospitality-driven business activity.
“Regional Queensland is an economic powerhouse, and the travel data proves corporate Australia is finally treating it like one,” said Renos Rologas, ANZ General Manager at FCM Travel.
“The diversity of what’s driving these trips has changed. The fact is, it’s not just project coordinators heading to the regions anymore, it’s executives, decision-makers, and investors.”
He said government investment in aviation is accelerating an existing shift.
“The State Government’s investment in air connectivity is hurrying that shift, but the fundamentals were always there, resources, infrastructure, events, and now the transport links to match,” he said.
Local impact
For Mackay, holding the state’s busiest regional corporate route highlights its ongoing role in Queensland’s business travel network.
Consistent corporate traffic supports demand for accommodation, transport, food services, and business venues, while maintaining strong links between Mackay and Brisbane.
The sustained volume also reflects Mackay’s position within broader regional economic activity, rather than a short-term spike tied to a single project or event.
By the numbers
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Brisbane to Mackay remained Queensland’s busiest regional corporate travel route by volume in Q4 2025, according to FCM Travel booking data.
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Business travel from Brisbane to Rockhampton increased 34 per cent year on year, the highest growth recorded across regional Queensland routes.
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The Queensland Government committed more than $1 billion over four years under the Destination 2045 Strategy to aviation, regional events, and tourism infrastructure.
Zoom in
At the centre of the Destination 2045 Strategy is the $75 million Connecting Queensland Fund.
The fund is designed to stimulate new and more frequent regional air services ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The strategy also includes a $2 billion regional events pipeline aimed at spreading tourism and business activity beyond Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Zoom out
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said the airport plays a critical role in connecting regional Queensland.
“As Queensland’s premier transport hub, Brisbane Airport plays a critical role in connecting regional communities to enable tourism, mining, and essential healthcare, as well as bringing loved ones together,” he said.
“When Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is thriving.”
He said Brisbane Airport is Australia’s most connected domestic airport, with services to 62 destinations, half of them within Queensland.
“Brisbane Airport is also the hub of Queensland’s air freight network, which is essential for the time-critical delivery of goods to people and businesses across the state, including medical supplies, fresh produce and exports,” he said.
“Every flight through our airport helps bring people, investment, and opportunity to all corners of the state.”
What to look for next?
With Brisbane 2032 approaching, corporate travel patterns are already shifting toward regional Queensland.
As Mackay continues to lead by volume, attention will remain on how aviation capacity and regional infrastructure respond to sustained business demand.
