The Age Green Guide interview with co-creator and co-executive producer Jude Troy, and star Shabana Azeez (paywall)
The article says some scenes were filmed at the Members Stand of Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse, which doubled as Melbourne Airport terminal.
SBS trailer
Wednesday, 26 August at 8.35pm Double episode
Airport Chaplain Tobias (Hugo Weaving) is convinced the airport couldn’t possibly run without his 24/7 devotion. But new Terminal Manager Mira (Shabana Azeez) is convinced he’s a redundancy waiting to happen.
Wednesday, 2 September at 8.35pm
Episode Three:
Tobias and Mira juggle multiple crises - baggage belts out of service, a fish smuggler, a woman on the run, and Asha, the young woman from the prayer room - with a verified name but a murky backstory.Episode Four:
It’s Valentine’s Day. Passenger Vijay has landed to meet his one and only, Pamela. But is she real? Mira feels little love from the baggage handlers, and what does Asha really want from Tobias?
TV Tonight interview with star Shabana Azeez
Have watched the first few episodes and love it.
A very easy to watch and highly bingeable show.
Fantastic premise with excellent performances from an outstanding cast.
Really hope this gets the eyeballs it thoroughly deserves.
It launches globally on Netflix today, and I hope it captures global attention. Although it’s an Australian series, the global nature of the subject matter will hopefully resonate worldwide.
Throughly recommend watching.
For tonight’s premiere, SBS is doing a quick switch from episode 1 and 2, before showing combined closing credits at the end of episode 2. On SBS on Demand, each episode has its own end credits.
The synopsis for episode 2 is
The nameless woman in the prayer room is refusing to leave or speak. Will the stubbornness of this stranger, and a security review, be Tobias’ undoing as airport chaplain?
I enjoyed watching this show last night on SBS. Hugo Weaving is great in anything he stars in.
Not often we see 30 minute local drama on our screens these days. But good for SBS as airing them as double episodes.
I’m recording each episode for posterity. Looking forward to watching it when/if I get time to.
Did well enough to make the top 30 with 239,000. Will watch the consolidated results in a week.
Netflix will release the most watched shows list in the next week or two. Will be interesting to see if it can join the other Aussie drama My Brilliant Career in the top ten.
Wednesday, 9 September at 8.40pm
Episode Five:
With the baggage handlers on strike, the airport is sliding into chaos. As the truth of Asha’s predicament emerges, Tobias realises he’s been played by her.
Episode Six:
Tobias has a guilt-ridden Asha booked on the next flight to Dublin. Controversial influencer Viggo Larsen, stuck at the airport with his visa under ministerial review, incites discord and Mira’s fury.
This is such a good show! Hopefully a second season will be ordered.
Quite a few familiar faces making a cameo as well.
Wednesday, 16 September at 8.30pm
Episode Seven:
When two parentless kids show up at the airport, Tobias and Cath soon realise that something’s off. Taking their wellbeing into his own hands forces Tobias’ past to come crashing into the present.
Episode Eight - Final
A plane of terrified passengers circles the airport in a storm. The captain is having a panic attack and has locked himself in the cockpit. Is Tobias the only person who can land this plane safely?
The Airport Chaplain did not make it to the list of Netflix top 10 shows for the week of August 24-30 (all episodes dropped on August 26).
1.67 million viewers on National Total TV to date
Best week one performance for an SBS local drama
One in four viewers have binged the entire series in the first week
SBS Original drama The Airport Chaplain has soared to new heights, smashing SBS On Demand records in its first week of launch to become the most successful SBS commissioned drama to launch on streaming.
The compelling series starring Hugo Weaving (Slow Horses), Shabana Azeez (The Pitt), Claudia Karvan (Homebodies), Erroll Shand (All Her Fault) and Thomas Weatherall (Heartbreak High) has become the network’s biggest launch of 2026 to date, after the FIFA World Cup™, marking a flying start for the new Australian drama.
Set inside the high-stakes world of an international airport, The Airport Chaplain has struck a chord with audiences through its warm, funny and deeply human stories about the unexpected connections that form between strangers, workers and travellers passing through one of Australia’s busiest airports.
SBS Head of Scripted, Nakul Legha said, “We’re thrilled to see The Airport Chaplain resonate so profoundly with audiences. This is a gripping and timely drama that celebrates our shared humanity.
“It’s the kind of bold, distinctive home-grown storytelling that only SBS can deliver. Its success is a testament to the stellar cast and creative team who brought this series to life, and we look forward to even more viewers falling in love with The Airport Chaplain in the weeks ahead.”
Attracting 1.67 million viewers to date, The Airport Chaplain is connecting with audiences across SBS, with significant viewing on SBS On Demand. One in four viewers have also binged the entire series within its first week, demonstrating the addictive storytelling that makes this series so watchable. Audience engagement has extended beyond the initial broadcast, with the series recording a 154% uplift in its Total TV series average audience from Overnight to Consolidated 7 (C7), as viewers continue to discover and watch episodes on SBS On Demand after their original broadcast.
SBS Director of Television, Kathryn Fink said, “The Airport Chaplain is a great example of our audience strategy in action and the kind of original Australian drama that keeps audiences coming back. It’s a story that feels unmistakably SBS and we’re delighted to see it’s heart and humanity resonate.
“We’ve set ambitious targets for SBS this year around audience retention off the back of the FIFA World Cup™. So, it’s incredibly rewarding to see that ambition come to life, with nearly half of The Airport Chaplain audience also watching the FIFA World Cup™. The response to the series demonstrates a real appetite for stories that connect with audiences, wherever and whenever they choose to watch.”
In a landmark first for an SBS Original drama, the series launched simultaneously on Netflix outside Australia, extending the series’ reach to global audiences in more than 190 countries and regions.
The response has been matched by critical acclaim, with The Sydney Morning Herald hailing it as “one of the best shows of the year”. Guardian Australia awarding the series four stars and describing it as “thoroughly bingeable” and “moreish”.
Co-created and executive produced by Elise McCredie and Jude Troy, The Airport Chaplain is a Wooden Horse production for SBS, with major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with SBS. Financed with support from VicScreen.
The Airport Chaplainhas been subtitled in five languages and is available to stream on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. All eight episodes are available with audio description reinforcing SBS’s commitment to making accessible content.
Watch The Airport Chaplain on Wednesday night at 8.30pm on SBS. All eight episodes are also available to stream free on SBS On Demand.
Sources
OzTAM VOZ National data, When Watched, 25 August–6 September 2026, Total TV Reach based on one-minute broadcast and 15-second BVOD reach.
SBS Adobe Analytics data. Streaming figures are based on Active Watchers and Chapter Views during the seven-day period inclusive of each program’s launch date.
