Melbourne Airport

Before the opening of Melbourne Airport, Melbourne's main airport was Essendon Airport, which was officially designated an international airport in 1950. In the mid-1950s, over 10,000 passengers were using Essendon Airport, and its limitations were beginning to become apparent. Essendon's facilities were insufficient to meet the increasing demand for air travel; the runways were too short to handle large jets, and the terminals failed to handle the increase in passengers. By the mid-1950s, an international overflow terminal was built in a new northern hangar. The airport could not be expanded, as it had become surrounded by residential districts.

The search for a replacement for Essendon commenced in February 1958, when a panel was appointed to assess Melbourne's civil aviation needs.[10] Alternative sites considered were Tullamarine (12 miles (19.3 km) from Melbourne), Whittlesea (18 miles (29.0 km)), Hastings (40 miles (64.4 km)), Port Melbourne (3 miles (4.8 km)), Werribee (25 miles (40.2 km)), Laverton (16 miles (25.7 km)), Avalon (35 miles (56.3 km)) and Moorabbin (14 miles (22.5 km)).[11] Considerations such as superior proximity to Melbourne and lower development costs narrowed the choice to either Tullamarine or Laverton, with Laverton eventually eliminated in part due to issues coordinating both military and civil activities that could not guarantee the degree of safety demanded, and that traffic coordination would be easier with the shorter distance between Essendon and Tullamarine.[11]

In 1959, the Commonwealth Government acquired 5,300 ha (13,000 acres) of grassland in then-rural Tullamarine.[12]

In May 1959 it was announced that a new airport would be built at Tullamarine, with Prime Minister Robert Menzies announcing on 27 November 1962 a five-year plan to provide Melbourne with a A$45 million "jetport" by 1967.[13][14][15][16] The first sod at Tullamarine was turned two years later in November 1964.[10] In line with the five-year plan, the runways at Essendon were expanded to handle larger aircraft, with Ansett Australia launching the Boeing 727 there in October 1964, the first jet aircraft used for domestic air travel in Australia.[17][13]

Prime Minister John Gorton giving a speech at the opening of Melbourne Airport in 1970.

On 1 July 1970, Prime Minister John Gorton opened Melbourne Airport to international operations ending Essendon's near two decade run as Melbourne's international airport.[18] Essendon still was home to domestic flights for one year, until they transferred to Melbourne Airport on 26 June 1971, with the first arrival of a Boeing 747 occurring later that year.[19][20] In the first year of operations, Melbourne handled six international airlines and 155,275 international passengers.[20]

Melbourne Airport was originally called 'Melbourne International Airport'. It is at Tullamarine, a name derived from the indigenous name Tullamareena.[17] Locally, the airport is commonly referred to as Tullamarine or simply as Tulla to distinguish the airport from the other three Melbourne airports: Avalon, Essendon and Moorabbin.[21][22]

On opening, Melbourne Airport consisted of three connected terminals: International in the centre, with Ansett to the South and Trans Australia Airlines to the North. The design capacity of the airport was eight Boeing 707s at a rate of 500 passengers per hour, with minor expansion works completed in 1973 allowing Boeing 747s to serve the airport.[23] By the late 1980s peak passenger flows at the airport had reached 900 per hour, causing major congestion.[23]

In late 1989, Federal Airports Corporation Inspector A. Rohead was put in charge of a bicentennial project to rename streets in Melbourne Airport to honour the original inhabitants, European pioneers and aviation history. Information on the first two categories was provided by Ian Hunter, Wurundjeri researcher, and Ray Gibb, local historian. The project was completed but was shelved, with the only suggested name, Gowrie Park Drive, being allocated, named after the farm at the heart of the airport. During the 1920s, the farm had been used as a landing site for aircraft, which were parked at night during World War II in case Essendon Aerodrome was bombed.[24]

Australian Airlines Boeing 727 at Melbourne Airport in 1988.

In 1988, the Australian Government formed the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC), placing Melbourne Airport under the operational control of the new corporation along with 21 other airports around the nation.[20]

The FAC undertook a number of upgrades at the airport. The first major upgrades were carried out at the domestic terminals,[20] with an expansion of the Ansett domestic terminal approved in 1989 and completed in 1991, adding a second pier for use by smaller regional airlines.[25][26] Work on an upgrade of the international terminal commenced in 1991, with the 'SkyPlaza' retail complex completed in late 1993 on a site flanking the main international departure gates.[20] The rest of the work was completed in 1995, when the new three-level satellite concourse was opened at the end of the existing concourse. Diamond shaped and measuring 80 m (260 ft) on each side, the additional 10 aerobridges provided by the expansion doubled the international passenger handing capacity at Melbourne Airport.[27]

In April 1994, the Australian Government announced that all airports operated by FAC would be privatized in several phases.[28] Melbourne Airport was included in the first phase, being acquired by the newly formed Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited for $1.3 billion.[20] The transfer was completed on 30 June 1997 on a 50-year long-term lease, with the option for a further 49 years.[29] Melbourne Airport is categorized as a Leased Commonwealth Airport.[30]

Since privatization, further improvements to infrastructure have begun at the airport, including expansion of runways, car parks and terminals. The multi-storey carpark outside the terminal was completed between 1995 and August 1997 at a cost of $49 million, providing 3,100 parking spaces, the majority undercover.[20] This initially four-level structure replaced the previous open air carpark outside the terminal. Work commenced on the six-story 276-room Hilton Hotel (now Parkroyal) above the carpark in January 1999, which was completed in mid-2000 at a cost of $55 million. Expansion of the Qantas domestic terminal was completed in 1999, featuring a second pier and 9 additional aircraft stands.[31]

In December 2000, a fourth passenger terminal opened: the Domestic Express Terminal, located to the south of the main terminal building at a cost of $9 million. It was the first passenger terminal facility to be built at Melbourne Airport since 1971.[32]

Expansion of carparks has also continued with a $40 million project commenced in 2004, doubling the size of the short term carpark with the addition of 2,500 spaces over six levels, along with 1,200 new spaces added to the 5,000 already available in the long term carpark.[33] Revenue from retail operations at Melbourne Airport broke the $100 million mark for the first time in 2004, this being a 100 per cent increase in revenue since the first year of privatization.[33]

In 2005, the airport undertook construction works to prepare the airport for the arrival of the double-decker Airbus A380. The main work was the widening of the main north–south runway by 15 m (49 ft), which was completed over a 29-day period in May 2005.[34] The improvements also included the construction of dual airbridges (Gates 9 and 11) with the ability to board both decks simultaneously to reduce turnaround times, the extension of the international terminal building by 20 m (66 ft) to include new penthouse airline lounges, and the construction of an additional baggage carousel in the arrivals hall. As a result, the airport was the first in Australia to be capable of handling the A380.[35] The A380 made its first test flight into the airport on 14 November 2005.[36] On 15 May 2008, the A380 made its first passenger flight into the airport when a Singapore Airlines Sydney-bound flight was diverted from Sydney Airport because of fog.[37] Beginning services in October 2008, Qantas was the first airline to operate the A380 from the airport, flying nonstop to Los Angeles International Airport twice a week. This was the inaugural route for the Qantas A380.[38]

In March 2006, the airport undertook a 5,000 m² (54,000 sq ft) expansion of Terminal 2, and the construction of an additional level of airline lounges above the terminal.[39] In 2008 a further 25,000 m² (270,000 sq ft) expansion of Terminal 2 commenced, costing $330 million with completion in 2011. The works added 5 additional aerobridges on a new passenger concourse, and a new 5,000 m² (54,000 sq ft) outbound passenger security and customs processing zone.[40]

In 2017, Melbourne Airport international passenger movements exceeded 10 million annual travellers.[41] In the Financial Year of 2022/2023, international passenger movements exceeded 8 million travellers, up 330% post-COVID.[42]

Terminal 1 hosts Qantas and QantasLink domestic flights

The second pier at Terminal 1 was built in 1999.

Terminal 1 Departures

Terminal 1 hosts domestic and regional services for Qantas Group airlines, Qantas and QantasLink (which is located to the northern end of the building). Departures are located on the first floor, while arrivals are located on the ground floor. The terminal has 16 parking bays served by aerobridges; 12 are served by single aerobridges whilst four are served by double aerobridges. There are another five non-aerobridge gates, which are used by QantasLink.

Opened with Melbourne Airport in 1970 for Trans Australia Airlines, the terminal passed to Qantas in 1992 when it acquired the airline. Work on improving the original terminal commenced in October 1997 and was completed in late 1999 at a cost of $50 million, featuring a second pier, stands for 9 additional aircraft, an extended access roadway and the expansion of the terminal.[31][20]

Today, a wide range of shops and food outlets are situated at the end of the terminal near the entrance into Terminal 2. Qantas has a Qantas Club, Business Class and a chairman's lounge in the terminal.[46][47]

T2 Departure Gates

Terminal 2 handles all international, and limited domestic flights out of Melbourne Airport, and opened in 1970. The terminal has 20 gates with aerobridges. Cathay Pacific, Qantas (which includes two lounges in Terminal 2, a First lounge, and a Business lounge/Qantas Club), Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Emirates all operate airline lounges in the terminal.[47][48]

The international terminal contains works by noted Australian Indigenous artists including Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri and Gloria Petyarre.[49]

A $330 million expansion programme for Terminal 2 was announced in 2007 and completed in 2012. The objectives of this project included new lounges and retail facilities, a new satellite terminal, increased luggage capacity and a redesign of customs and security areas.[50] A new satellite terminal was also constructed as part of the project, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows which offer views of the North-South runway. The new concourse also includes three double-decker aerobridges, each of which can accommodate an A380 or two smaller aircraft and one single aerobridge. The baggage handling capacity was also increased, and two new baggage carousels were built to cater to increased A380 traffic.[51]

Although described as a satellite terminal, the terminal building is connected by an above-ground corridor to Terminal 2. Departures take place on the lower deck (similar to the A380 boarding lounges currently in use at Gates 9 and 11), with arrivals streamed on to the first floor to connect with the current first floor arrivals deck.

Terminal 3 interior

Terminal 3 opened with the airport as the Ansett Australia terminal, but is now owned by Melbourne Airport. Terminal 3 is currently home to Virgin Australia. It has eleven parking bays served by single aerobridges and eight parking bays not equipped with aerobridges.

An expansion of the terminal was approved in 1989 and completed in 1991 when a second pier was added by Ansett to the south for use by smaller regional airline Kendell, which Ansett owned.[25][26] The terminal was used exclusively by the Ansett Group for all its domestic activities until its collapse in 2001. It was intended to be used by the "new Ansett", under ownership of Tesna; however, following the Tesna group's withdrawal of the purchase of Ansett in 2002, the terminal was sold back to Melbourne Airport by Ansett's administrators. As a result, Melbourne Airport undertook a major renovation and facelift of the terminal, following which Virgin Australia (then Virgin Blue) moved in from what was then called Domestic Express (now Terminal 4),[52] and has since begun operating The Lounge in the terminal, using the former Ansett Australia Golden Wing Lounge area.[47][53] Rex also operates an airline lounge in the terminal.[54]

Pier with gates 41-52, part of Terminal 4

Terminal 4 – originally called the Domestic Express or South Terminal – is dedicated to budget airlines and is the first facility of its kind at a conventional airport in Australia. It was originally constructed for Virgin Blue (Virgin Australia) and Impulse Airlines. Virgin Blue eventually moved into Terminal 3 following the demise of Ansett.[55] A$5 million refit began in June 2007[56] along the lines of the budget terminal model at Singapore Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Lower landing and airport handling fees are charged to airlines due to the basic facilities, lack of jet bridges, and fewer amenities and retail outlets compared to a conventional terminal. However, the terminal is located next to the main terminal building, unlike in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The terminal was rebuilt by Tiger Airways Australia, which had used it as its main hub since it operated its first domestic flight on 23 November 2007.[57]

Jetstar confirmed its involvement in discussions with Melbourne Airport regarding the expansion of terminal facilities to accommodate for the growth of domestic low-cost services. The expansion of Terminal 4 includes infrastructure to accommodate Tigerair Australia and Jetstar Airways flights. The development cost hundreds of millions of dollars.[22] In March 2012, airport officials would break ground that October and they expected completion in July 2014, however, they pushed that date to late August 2015. The facility opened on 18 August 2015 with Jetstar first utilising the terminal. The new T4 terminal is 35,000 m² (380,000 sq ft) and linked "under one roof" with T3. Terminal 4 is currently used by Rex Airlines, Jetstar, Airnorth, and Bonza. Tigerair Australia formerly also used Terminal 4 before going into administration.

The terminal has Rex, Bonza Airlines and Jetstar check-ins, baggage claim and bag drop on ground floor whilst the food court, shops and lounges are located on the first floor, which lead to the departure/arrival zone.

Rex Airlines and Bonza currently use the jet bridge equipped section of Terminal 4 for operations, while Jetstar uses the non-jet bridge equipped section of Terminal 4 for operations. Currently Airnorth does not operate any services to Melbourne, however still retains their check-in/baggage check-in desks.

The Southern Freighter Apron has five dedicated freighter parking positions which host 21 dedicated freighter operations a week.[44] In August 1997, the fifth freighter parking position and the apron was extended.[20]

Walkway to car park

Melbourne Airport is served by four hotels. A Parkroyal Hotel is located 100 m (330 ft) from Terminal 2 atop the multi-level carpark. Work commenced on the six-story 280-room hotel in January 1999 and was completed in mid-2000.[31] The hotel was originally a Hilton but was relaunched as the Parkroyal on 4 April 2011.[58] Holiday Inn has an outlet located 400 m (1,300 ft) from the terminal precinct. Ibis Budget offers lodgings located 600 m (2,000 ft) from the terminals. Mantra Tullamarine opened in 2009, 2 km (1.2 mi) from the terminal precinct.[59]

Melbourne is the second busiest airport in Australia. The airport is curfew-free and operates 24 hours a day, although between 2 am and 4 am, freight aircraft are more prevalent than passenger flights.[60] In 2004, the environmental management systems were accredited ISO 14001, the world's best practice standard, making it the first airport in Australia to receive such accreditation.[61]

Melbourne Airport has two intersecting runways: one 3,657 m (11,998 ft) north–south and one 2,286 m (7,500 ft) east–west. Due to increasing traffic, several runway expansions are planned, including an 843 m (2,766 ft) extension of the north-south runway to lengthen it to 4,500 m (14,764 ft), and a 1,214 m (3,983 ft) extension of the east–west runway to a total of 3,500 m (11,483 ft). Two new runways are also planned: a 3,000 m (9,843 ft) runway parallel to the current north–south runway and a 3,000 m (9,843 ft) runway south of the current east–west runway.[62] The current east west runway extension and new third runway were expected to cost $500–750 million with major construction originally set to begin around 2019 and be complete by 2022.[63] However, in 2019 following an extensive consultation period, Melbourne Airport unexpectedly dropped plans for a new east-west runway in favour of constructing a new parallel north-south runway to the west of the airport, citing aircraft noise concerns for residents in nearby suburbs of Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Attwood and Jacana.[64] Although there is an additional 12–24 months of planning, Melbourne Airport Corporation anticipates the new north-south runway will be operational by 2025, with the potential to include the extension of the existing east-west runway.[65] Traffic movement was expected to reach 248,000 per annum by 2017, and existing runway capacity is expected by 2023, necessitating a third runway.[66]

On 5 June 2008, it was announced that the airport would install a Category III landing system, allowing planes to land in low visibility conditions, such as fog. This system was the first of its kind in Australia, and was commissioned March 2010 at a cost of $10 million.[67][10]

In addition to the onsite control tower, the airport is home to Melbourne Centre, an air traffic control facility that is responsible for the separation of aircraft in Australia's busiest flight information region (FIR), Melbourne FIR. Melbourne FIR monitors airspace over Victoria, Tasmania, southern New South Wales, most of South Australia, the southern half of Western Australia and airspace over the Indian and Southern Ocean. In total, the centre controls 6% of the world's airspace.[68] The airport is also the home of the Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne approach facilities, which provide control services to aircraft arriving and departing at those airports.

Tullamarine Freeway at the Calder Freeway interchange

Melbourne Airport is 23 km (14 mi) from the city centre and is accessible via the Tullamarine Freeway. One freeway offramp runs directly into the airport grounds, and a second to the south serves freight transport, taxis, buses and airport staff.[140] In June 2015, the Airport Drive extension was completed, creating a second major link to the airport. The link starts at the M80 Western Ring Road and provides direct access to Melrose Drive 1.5 kilometres from the terminal area.[141] As of late 2018 the Tullamarine Freeway was widened.[142] In mid-2023, a new exit was constructed specifically for Terminal 4, omitting the other exits in favour of an elevated off-ramp.

Melbourne Airport has five car parks, all of which operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The short-term, multi-level long-term, business and express carparks are covered, while the long-term parking is not.[143] The main multi-level carpark in front of the terminal was built in the late 1990s, replacing the pre-existing ground-level car parking,[31] progressively expanded ever since.

Melbourne Airport recorded more than 2.2 million taxi movements in the year to 30 June 2017.[144]

A SkyBus travelling to Melbourne Airport.

The SkyBus operates express bus services from the airport to Southern Cross railway station (on the western boundary of the Melbourne central business district)[145] and St Kilda.[146] Shuttle services also operate between the airport and the Mornington Peninsula,[147] making stops in St Kilda, Elsternwick, Brighton and Frankston.[148] SkyBus current transports around 3.4 million passengers between the airport and Melbourne's CBD.[149]

Metropolitan and regional public buses also operate to or via the airport. Routes 478, 479 & 482 operate to Airport West, via the route 59 tram terminus. Route 479 also operates to Sunbury railway station, connecting with Sunbury and Bendigo line trains. Route 901 was introduced in September 2010[150] as a frequent bus service.[151] Route 901 connects to trains at Broadmeadows (Craigieburn, Seymour, Shepparton and Albury lines), Epping (Mernda line), Greensborough (Hurstbridge line) and Blackburn (Belgrave and Lilydale lines).[152] V/Line operates timetabled regional coach services to Barham and Deniliquin which stop at the airport.

There are nine other bus companies serving the airport, with services to Ballarat, Bendigo, Dandenong, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, Melbourne's suburbs, Shepparton and the Riverina,[153] which provide alternatives to transfer onto other V/Line services.

Map of final Melbourne Airport Rail route, which commenced construction in 2022 and is set to open in 2029. The link will run through the Melbourne CBD via the under-construction Metro Tunnel.

The Andrews state government commenced construction on Melbourne Airport Rail (SRL Airport) in 2022 and the rail link was set to open by 2029.[154] Currently construction has been halted as ex-Premier Daniel Andrews ordered for construction to halt. It is unknown when construction will resume, or if it will ever resume. The 27 km link will run via Sunshine station in Melbourne's west into the central city via the under-construction Metro Tunnel. The link will connect to western regional rail services at Sunshine and to other services on the Metropolitan rail network at Sunshine, Footscray, and State Library and Town Hall in the CBD. The link will be the first direct rail connection to the Airport.

Constructing a rail link has been discussed in Victorian politics since Melbourne Airport opened. Connecting the Broadmeadows line (now the Craigieburn line) to the airport was debated in the 1960s under the Bolte state government, but with insufficient support in parliament, the rail project was abandoned in 1965.[155]

In 2001, the Bracks State Government investigated the construction of a heavy rail link to the Airport under the Linking Victoria programme. Two options were considered; the first branched off the Craigieburn Suburban Line to the east, and the second branched off the Albion Goods Line, which passes close to the airport's boundary to the south. The second option was preferred.[156] Market research concluded most passengers preferred travelling to the airport by taxi or car, and poor patronage of similar links in Sydney and Brisbane cast doubt on the viability of the project.[157] This led to the project being deferred until at least 2012. On 21 July 2008, the Premier of Victoria reaffirmed the government's commitment to a rail link and said that it would be considered within three to five years.[158] To maximise future development options, the airport lobbied for the on-grounds section of the railway to be underground.[62][159]

In 2010, Martin Pakula of the Labor Party, newly appointed State Minister for Public Transport, announced that the rail link had been taken off the agenda with new freeway options being explored instead.[155][160] A change of government at the 2010 Victorian State Election to renewed focus on the link, with a promise by the incoming Coalition government to undertake planning for its construction.[161] Proposals in January 2013 to improve the bus service to the airport involving turning emergency lanes into bus lanes on the freeway and the Bolte Bridge and putting SkyBus on a myki fare, were challenged by CityLink operator Transurban because it would limit its toll revenue, and by Melbourne Airport, because it would reduce its car parking profits.[162]

On 13 March 2013, the Victorian Liberal government under then Premier, Denis Napthine, announced that the Melbourne Airport Rail Link (MARL) would be constructed around 2015/16 running from the CBD via Sunshine Station and the Albion–Jacana railway line.[163] This proposal was shelved after the Napthine Government lost office to the Labor Party at the 2014 state election.

After initially rejecting the project, the Andrews Government announced in May 2017 that it would spend $10 million along with the Turnbull government's $30 million to devise a rail link planning study. On 23 November 2017, Premier Daniel Andrews told business groups that construction on a rail link between the airport and Melbourne's Southern Cross station via Sunshine station would begin construction within the next 10 years.[164]

On 12 April 2018, then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledged $5 billion in federal funding for a rail link between the Airport and the Melbourne CBD, provided the Victoria state government match the funding.[165][166] On 22 July 2018, the state government announced that it would provide $5 billion to match federal government funding for the airport rail link.[167] The Sunshine route was chosen, with Sunshine station to be upgraded for easier interchange for metropolitan and regional passengers onto Airport services and the link confirmed to run through the Metro Tunnel.[168]

The business case was released in 2022 and it was announced that the Melbourne Airport station would be elevated at a height of around 6 storeys.[169] Melbourne Airport Corporation objected to the elevated station, arguing for it to be built underground.[169]