The Australian Services Union (ASU) has called for an urgent audit of health and safety at Australia's Brisbane Airport after an elderly woman died in a Qantas check-in queue earlier this week.

Qantas said it was already adding staff and would speed up a redesign of its Brisbane airport terminal.

ASU secretary Julie Bignell said the union had been discussing staffing levels at the Qantas terminal with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for almost two years.

Ms Bignell said the government agency had not acted on congestion at the airport at peak check-in times.

On Nov. 15, Ms Bignell said frustrated passengers had booed Qantas staff at the airport on Nov. 12 after they left their check-in counters to assist an 80-year-old woman who collapsed and died in a long queue.

The woman was believed to have suffered a heart attack shortly after joining the Qantas Club check-in queue.

"When problems occur, like a medical emergency, there are not enough staff to cope with it, the staff who are there are not trained to deal with it, and there is no equipment such as oxygen or defibrillators available on site," Ms Bignell said.

Qantas regional general manager Andrew Hogg said the airline was recruiting 35 new permanent customer service staff before Christmas for its Brisbane terminal.

"The recruitment process has been ongoing and some new staff have already started," Mr Hogg said.

The redesign of the Brisbane terminal includes moving the check-in and security check areas from the ground level and expanding lounges and baggage areas.

Mr Hogg said the online check-in introduced this year and the self-service check-in kiosks had been very popular.

"We have seen enormous uptake of these services, but there is still pressure on the terminal staff," he said.

Mr Hogg said attempts to use tragic occurrences such as the elderly woman's death for the union's agenda were "very disappointing".

A spokesman for the Brisbane Airport Corporation said staffing and security issues were up to Qantas, which was leasing the terminal from the airport.