Melbourne Airport is advancing a A$4.5 billion expansion of its international terminal in Tullamarine, Melbourne, with new designs showing larger check-in, arrivals and departure areas, expanded baggage reclaim and five additional aircraft stands. The staged programme will improve capacity and operational flexibility for airlines while the airport continues operating around the clock and develops a third runway.
The plans also include larger passenger waiting areas, upgraded lounges and additional retail and dining space. The five new stands will be capable of accommodating five widebody or eight narrowbody aircraft, giving carriers more flexibility to add services and adjust schedules as demand grows.
The expansion became possible after Melbourne Airport closed its 56-year-old departures ramp and opened new pick-up and drop-off facilities for Terminals 1, 2 and 3 earlier this month. Average peak-period travel time to the drop-off area fell by about 10 minutes during the facilities’ first weeks of operation.
Construction will be delivered in stages alongside development of the third runway and improvements to the airport’s road network. The terminal project forms part of a privately funded A$17 billion infrastructure programme. Melbourne Airport handled 12.26 million international passengers in the 2026 financial year, its busiest period for international traffic. A completion date for the full terminal expansion has not been set.