Many of Australia's airports are no longer government owned - they are now controlled by companies and make money for their investors. For example Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth are owned by consortiums that are a mix of Australian and European companies. These companies make money from the airlines (domestic and international) by way of charges for aircraft landings and the use of terminals. Additional money is made through the ownership of property, industrial developments on the airport sites, car-parking and the sales and rental from retail shopping precincts.
| Airport | Owners | Comments |
| Adelaide | Serco (UK) - Manchester Airport, UniSuper, Macquarie Bank, local government superannuation, John Laing Investment (UK), National Australia Bank Asset Management and builder Hansen and Yuncken | Bought for $352 million - includes Parafield Airport for light aircraft in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. The operators plan to build a new terminal funded by a passenger levy. |
| Brisbane | The consortium also owns and operates Schipol Airport (Amsterdam), the Netherlands and Frankfurt Airport, Germany. Other groups with a financial interest are Commonwealth Custodial Services, National Asset Management, Colonial, Port of Brisbane Corporation and Brisbane City Council. | Bought for approximately $1.3 billion by the Brisbane Airport Corporation. It has a strong retail component. |
| Melbourne | The consortium is made up of AMP, BAA (British airports operator) and Axiom, the NSW state superannuation fund. | Bought for approximately $1.3 billion. It makes most of its money from the operation of parking stations. |
| Perth | A mix of Australian and overseas investors - BAA (British airports operator) and Hastings a Melbourne based infrastructure funds-management group. | Operated by Westralia Airports Corporation. They have built a new freight-park near the international terminal building. |
| Hobart | Hobart Ports Corporation | |
| Launceston | BAA (British airports operator), Axiom and AMP Investments. |
