Melbourne Airport is working to finalise the details of a major international terminal expansion, following 12 months of engagement with airlines to deliver increased terminal capacity and an enhanced experience for passengers.
This follows the busiest month on record for international travel at the Australian airport, with 1,147,533 international passengers using the airport in December.
International seat capacity into Melbourne Airport is at an all-time high, at 113 per cent of pre- pandemic levels, which is putting pressure on existing facilities.
Foreign airlines account for 72 per cent of all international seat capacity into the Australian state of Victoria, and major carriers understand the current constraints and the need for expansion, the airport says.
The completion of a new elevated road network in 2026 will allow for an expansion of the international check-in and baggage claim halls, while discussions continue on an expanded international satellite that would increase capacity for airline lounges, retail outlets and passenger waiting areas, and up to five new widebody gates.
Melbourne Airport is currently mid-way through an A$500 million project to replace the international baggage system with a new, state-of-the-art tote-based system, which will increase capacity by allowing for any-time check-in and early bag storage.
In December, the airport set new records for the number of bags it handled for outbound flights.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the plans were being developed in response to increasing passenger demand, with the existing international terminal often requiring bussing during peak periods.
“We’re setting new records for international passenger numbers and as Melbourne’s population grows, it’s important that our infrastructure grows too,” she said.
