Backed by Victorian government investment, the facility – as flagged in January – will be able to handle 100,000 tonnes of freight per year, and is equipped with “advanced scanning technology” that will speed up cargo processing.

The screening point for Qantas passengers has five security lanes equipped with Standard 3 Rapiscan CT technology, which allows laptops and aerosols to be kept inside bags, as well as larger tubs for personal items and automatic tray return.

Australia’s biggest gateway has recorded 12.55 million international passengers so far this year, fuelled by new services and four per cent growth in international seat capacity. It follows a 6.6 per cent year-on-year growth in international passengers for Q3 of 2025 to 4.28 million.

In the airport’s preliminary draft 2026 master plan, it details the move to rename the international terminal as T1 and domestic terminal as T2, with the new terminal – located between the two parallel runways – to be dubbed T3.