Package 3 outcomes

Following two phases of community and industry engagement in 2024 and 2025, we’ve now completed the assessment of Package 3 options, which aimed to reduce the frequency and concentration of flights over communities.

Community and industry feedback played an important role in shaping these outcomes, and we thank everyone who took the time to share their views and provide feedback.

This update provides a summary of the Package 3 outcomes, including flight path changes taking effect Thursday, 9 July 2026.

What is changing on 9 July 2026

On Thursday, 9 July 2026 some arrival flight paths over land into Brisbane airport will change.

Airservices shared initial concepts for these changes with the community in Phase 5 engagement of the Noise Action Plan for Brisbane in 2024, and the preferred option designs in Phase 6 engagement in 2025, noting these changes were necessary to support Independent Parallel Runway Operations (IPRO) at Brisbane Airport.

These changes include:

  • arrivals from the east to the legacy (eastern) runway – changes are being made from the mainland coastline through to joining final approach, tracking over less densely populated areas
  • arrivals from the south to the legacy (eastern) runway – change to the turn onto final approach to land, tracking over less densely populated areas
  • arrivals from the north and west to the new (western) runway – change to the turn for final approach, which has a small population increase to meet the required aviation standards.

While IPRO mode is not expected to be regularly used until late 2027, the changes to the arrival flight paths are being implemented on 9 July 2026, to expedite the reduced community impact. To find out more, you can download the assessment report here.

You can also download and review the detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (9 MB) for this change.

Preferred options progressing to implementation

A fact sheet has been prepared to provide an overview of the outcomes of our assessment of the options engaged on across 2024 and 2025 – Package 3 Outcomes Summary fact sheet (2.96 MB)

Detailed assessment reports document the initial concepts and their development into preferred options, sharing the relevant factors considered in their assessment, and how community and industry feedback has been considered and shaped the outcomes. Four reports are available using the links below or they can be accessed from the documents panel on the right-hand side of this page.

A summary of community engagement conducted across 2024 and 2025 to support these decisions can be viewed here – Package 3 Community Engagement Summary

Next steps to progress to implementation

For the changes being progressed to implementation, the next steps are to complete detailed safety work and formal environmental assessment in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The flight path changes will be implemented as soon reasonably practicable after this, following standard publication and training requirements.

We’ll continue to keep the community updated as this work progresses.

Submit feedback on reports

If you have feedback on the clarity of reports and rationale provided for the outcomes, or if you have any questions about the outcomes, you can complete a short survey or contact us by email communityengagement@AirservicesAustralia.com or post: Noise Action Plan for Brisbane, Locked Bag 747, Eagle Farm Q 4009.

Please note that these outcomes are final and not subject to further review.

Feedback is open until 23 August 2026.

We recognise that some of these outcomes may be disappointing for some members of the community and that aircraft noise can have a significant impact on people's wellbeing. Airservices continues to provide access to independent wellbeing support through Converge International, at no cost to community members who feel affected by aircraft operations. To find out more visit: https://engage.airservicesaustralia.com/community-wellbeing-support.