Melbourne Airport plans for fourth runway, fifth terminal
By Andrew Curran.
The latest draft Master Plan released by Melbourne Airport (MEL) envisages a future Terminal 5 and four runways in a "hashtag" configuration sometime later this century.
The airport, Australia's second busiest, is required by law to produce an updated Master Plan every five years, outlining a 20-year development strategy. Earlier this week, Melbourne Airport released the 392-page draft of its Master Plan 2027.
"We need to plan ahead to ensure we have the airfield, terminal and ground transport infrastructure in place to adequately service the growing number of travellers, exporters and importers using Melbourne Airport," said Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus.
Melbourne Airport flags future need for a fourth runway
Almost 37 million passengers passed through Melbourne Airport in the 12 months to June 30, 2026. That trails the 41.5 million passengers who used Sydney Airport during the same period but comfortably exceeds third-placed Brisbane Airport, which handled just over 25.2 million passengers.
But Melbourne Airport expects annual passenger numbers to grow to 75 million by 2046/47, accompanied by a corresponding increase in aircraft and vehicle movements.
Construction has already begun on the airport's AUD3 billion (USD2.1 billion) third runway (16R/34L), which is scheduled for completion in 2031. Planning is also underway to extend the 2,286-metre Runway 09/27 by 345 metres. However, the draft Master Plan reveals a longer-term ambition to build a fourth runway.
"This proposed fourth runway (approximately 3,000 metres long), designated 09R/27L, would be south of the existing east–west runway," the draft document states, adding that it is not expected to be required during the upcoming Master Plan’s 20-year lifespan. However, the plan safeguards the airport's layout to accommodate the future runway.
A planned fifth terminal for Melbourne Airport
The Master Plan also safeguards land for a future Terminal 5. Melbourne's existing terminal complex has been progressively expanded since opening in 1970. The most recent major addition, Terminal 4, opened in 2015, while a major redevelopment of the international Terminal 2 pier is due to begin shortly. That work will add additional boarding gates and aircraft stands to the overcrowded facility.
Like the fourth runway, Melbourne Airport does not expect Terminal 5 to be built during the life of Master Plan 2027. However, it has reserved land south of Terminal 4 for the building. In the shorter term, the airport plans to expand Terminal 4 towards the south to increase the capacity of the common-user departure lounge and provide a direct connection to the Terminal 4 transport hub, among other shorter term terminal improvements.
"In the next five to ten years, Melbourne Airport will continue to focus on using latent capacity and improving operational efficiencies within the domestic terminals, both in airside and terminal processes, before expanding infrastructure," the draft Master Plan notes.
"The priority for Melbourne Airport is to continue development of the existing terminal precinct to preserve inter-terminal connectivity and enable operational efficiencies."
The airport, which prides itself on its community focus, is accepting submissions on Master Plan 2027 until November 4, 2026. Melbourne Airport is also holding public engagement sessions across Melbourne over the coming months.
The final version of the Master Plan will be released next year and will supersede Master Plan 2022.
You can read the full draft Master Plan 2027 here.
Photos: Melbourne Airport.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com