First look at Melbourne’s new $4.5b international terminal

It comes just weeks after the airport finalised the redesign and redevelopment of its pick-up and drop-off zone, which spans terminals 1, 2 and 3.

The redeveloped drive-up zones marked the closure of Melbourne’s departure ramp after 56 years, which allows for the internal expansion of Melbourne’s new international concourse.

Melbourne Airport said that the newly developed drop-off area has received “positive” feedback from stakeholders, and shaves as much as 10 minutes off the average travel time between Mickleham Road and the airport drop zone in peak hour.

The airport, Australia’s largest 24-hour gateway, will also soon see a new third runway, after plans were approved last year. The 3,000-metre runway is currently expected to open in the early 2030s.

“We’re investing four and a half billion dollars expanding our T2 international terminal, and of course building our third runway,” Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos told the media on Tuesday.

“Despite what is happening globally with high fuel prices and the like, numbers continue to be relatively strong,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the airport had just seen its busiest September on record.

The airport saw a 3.6 per cent increase in domestic passenger figures in September 2026 compared to September the previous year, with over 2,100,000 passengers passing through the domestic concourses.

International traffic was also up slightly year-on-year, with just shy of 1 million international passengers seen in September.

Parashos said that despite cost of living pressures, travellers are finding “alternative ways” to travel, meaning there is “strong confidence and strong demand for Melbourne services”.

The airport is preparing to welcome Finnair to the airport next week, with daily services between Helsinki and Melbourne via Bangkok, as well as an increase to daily flights from British Airways come January.

“We’re thrilled with how well Melburnians have adapted to the new pick-up and drop-off zones for Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and we’d like to thank them for the way they’ve embraced the change,” Argus said.

“With the old Departures ramp now closed to traffic we can start to plan further changes in the arrivals forecourt that will allow us to start construction on the much-needed international terminal expansion.”

“At the same time we’re building Melbourne Airport’s third runway which will help reduce flight delays and give airlines the flexibility they need to schedule more flights at the times people want to fly,” Argus added.

“We’re incredibly excited to be delivering this upgrade to Melbourne Airport and we thank people for their patience while we work to build the new infrastructure in amongst our 24-hour operation.”