Melbourne Airport set for major overhaul under $3.5b plan to cope with doubling of passenger numbers by 2038

A NEW runway, terminal and more are set to shake up Melbourne Airport in a major overhaul to help it cope with growing passenger numbers, which are expected to nearly double to about 70 million by 2038.

MELBOURNE Airport is set for a major revamp under a $3.5 billion plan to cope with a doubling of passenger numbers to nearly 70 million by 2038.

A new east-west runway, new domestic terminal building, upgrades of existing facilities and an overhaul of drop-off and pick-up zones feature in the airport’s latest draft master plan.

Future projections see the airport eventually having four runways, six terminals and a high-speed rail station linking to the CBD and regional centres.

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AIRPORT COULD EVENTUALLY HOST 100 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR

An artist’s impression of Melbourne Airport’s expanded arrivals hall and forecourt.

Airport chief Lyell Strambi said that with passenger growth booming and Melbourne set to overtake Sydney as the nation’s biggest city in the 2030s, the airport faced an enviable challenge.

“We need to cater for this growth while at the same time delivering a high quality traveller experience and continuing to generate economic and employment benefits for Melbourne and Victoria,” he said.

Proposed over the next five years is completing a new parallel east-west runway while extending the existing one, according to the draft Melbourne Airport Master Plan 2018 released to the Herald Sun.

New taxiways and aircraft stands, and shared use of boarding gates between international and domestic operations are planned.

Melbourne Airport CEO Lyell Strambi next to a China Airlines plane.

Mr Strambi said these measures were critical to meeting expected passenger growth while maintaining on-time performance for travel by allowing aircraft movements to rise from 55 per hour to nearly 100 per hour.

“It will also support the Victorian economy by injecting an estimated $15.9 billion additional economic activity into the state,” he said.

The proposal will be subject to a community engagement program and public exhibition process.

Also envisaged over the next five years is an expansion of the international arrivals hall, improved self-service check-in kiosks and security screening in T2, and more airline lounges.

Better check-in facilities are mooted for T3, while a new landside connection between T3 and T4 will improve passenger flows between terminals.

The airport’s proposed new transport hub with drop-off area.

A new transport hub featuring more efficient drop-off and pick-up areas for T1, T2 and T3 will replace the often congested system using the forecourt now.

Also planned over the next few years between the Tullamarine Fwy and the terminals are a new hotel, cafes, bars, restaurants and offices.

By 2038, a fifth terminal south of T4 is an option while also proposed is a travelator or automated people mover for seamless links between domestic terminals.

The master plan welcomes the proposed airport rail link to the CBD and says the business case should safeguard options to extend the line beyond the main terminals precinct.

“An alignment to the north could potentially provide direct rail access to communities in regional Victoria or allow for a future high-speed rail connection, with Melbourne Airport being the high-speed rail station for Melbourne’s north,” it said.

An artist’s impression of the expanded international arrivals hall.

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For the longer-term, it is believed four runways will be needed, and a sixth terminal in a full build out of the airport site to support at least 80 million passengers a year.

Airport spokesman Michael Jarvis said the facility could service the state’s needs for the next 50 years but it made sense for governments to start thinking about preserving land for future airport development.

“However, the ongoing responsible development of Melbourne Airport to its full potential is our priority and will deliver enormous economic benefit to Melbourne and Victoria. It’s also the most cost-efficient option to develop just one airport in the state,” he said.

“Melbourne Airport supports $17.6 billion of activity in the Victorian economy, and $20.7 billion across all of Australia. Currently there are more than 20,000 jobs directly supported within the airport precinct and almost 150,000 jobs in Victoria.”

The airport hosts about 40 airlines and more than 650 daily flights.

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