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Melbourne Airport has recorded its busiest March for international travel despite the Iran conflict.
Australia’s second largest gateway saw more than one million international travellers in March for the first time, up from the previous March record set last year. A total of 3,129,811 people travelled through the airport last month, including domestic and regional passengers.
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This comes despite Middle East carriers like Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar scaling back flights due to airspace closures in the Gulf.
“March was a difficult month for many travellers, with conflict in the Middle East causing significant disruption for some of our major hubs and key routes to Europe,” said Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus.
“While Middle East services are progressively resuming and stabilising, it has been pleasing to see other airlines add capacity to Melbourne, with demand for connections through Southeast Asia, China and North American hubs particularly strong and load factors correspondingly high.”
March saw events such as the F1 Grand Prix and Labour Day weekend boost traffic, as well as the launch of AirAsia services to Bali, the upgauging of a daily Singapore Airlines flight to A380s, and the announcement of a British Airways service to Heathrow via Kuala Lumpur starting in 2027.
According to Argus, the increase in demand highlights the need for the airport’s major capital works programs, including a third runway and a $4.5 billion international terminal expansion.
“Even as cost of living pressures mount, we expect to see people prioritising travel to connect with friends, family or experiences both here in Melbourne, as well as interstate and overseas,” she said.
“We know oil prices will put pressure on both airlines and consumers in the short to medium term, but our investments highlight our commitment to look beyond the current challenges and deliver much needed capacity for airlines and travellers.
“The first phase of our international terminal expansion project will open later this year with a state-of-the art new baggage system and new Pick up and Drop off locations for Terminals 1, 2 and 3, which will allow us to start expanding the terminal footprint into the current forecourt and across the existing departures ramp.”
The terminal plans, signalled last year, will see the airport enlarge and modernise its international check-in and baggage claim halls; grow its terminal footprint with improved lounges, waiting areas and retail; and add five new gates to the existing international pier.
Works are slated to begin following the opening of Melbourne Airport’s new road network in September and will be carried out over several years.
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