Launceston Airport is preparing for what is expected to be its busiest day ever on Friday, as 24,000 Foo Fighters fans flood into the city for the band’s sold-out concert.
More than 6,500 travellers are forecast to pass through the terminal on the day before the Australia Day long weekend.
The American rock legends will take the stage at UTAS Stadium on Saturday for their only Australian show, marking their first performance in the state since 2015 and their first ever in Launceston.
Around 25,000 travellers are expected to move through the airport over the long weekend, with Virgin, Qantas and Jetstar adding extra flights to meet demand.
Launceston Airport CEO Katie Cooper said December capped off a record-breaking year, with 146,682 passengers travelling through the airport that month alone.
“December really punctuated a big year of growth for us, marking our eighth consecutive month of record passenger numbers and confirming 2025 as the busiest year in our history,” she said.
Total passenger numbers for 2025 reached 1,465,930, making it the busiest year ever at Tasmania’s northern gateway.
Cooper said 2026 was already off to a strong start.
“We expect Friday … will be our single busiest day in history,” she said.
“We will have additional team members on the ground to support passengers and ensure a smooth experience for people as they arrive and depart.”
Tickets to the concert sold out in just 20 minutes when they went on sale in December, with fans snapping them up from across the country.
The Launceston Chamber of Commerce estimates the event could inject more than $7.5 million into the local economy.
