Melbourne passenger numbers increase

Melbourne Airport has recorded five per cent growth in passenger numbers for the second quarter of the current financial year, aided primarily by a strong rise in international passenger numbers.

For the three months ending December 31, international passenger numbers were up by 14 per cent, aided by new services from Qatar Airways as well as additional capacity from other operators. As a result, for the first time in a calendar year the airport has passed the five million passenger mark.

The airport also saw its domestic passenger numbers rise by three per cent.

Melbourne is expecting a strong year ahead, with Viva Macau increasing its services to the Victorian capital, while V Australia will commence services to Johannesburg in March. Qantas also launched a weekly A380 service from Melbourne to London on January 18 which will double in March, alongside an extra A380 service on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route.