Melbourne Airport’s International Arrivals Hall is set to undergo a major refurbishment to cater for the Australian airport’s growing international passenger numbers.
The multimillion-dollar upgrade includes a significant expansion of the dwelling area with a larger link connecting Terminals 2 and 3, additional seating and escalators, an improved outdoor taxi pickup zone and greater wayfinding, in addition to repositioned hospitality.
According to Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Andrew Gardiner, traveler growth is the driving force behind the project.
“Melbourne Airport’s passenger numbers are growing rapidly, especially in the international traveler market leading us to the International Arrivals Hall expansion, which will future-proof the airport for continued growth,” he added.
“On an average day, almost 16,000 people pass through the Arrivals Hall, making it an extremely busy space. The refurbishment is going to create a more spacious and inviting environment for our travelers, while providing better connectivity to the rest of our terminal building.”
Work on the expansion will commence before the end of October 2019 – during construction, the main entry to the hall will close. Visitors to the airport are encouraged to access the Arrivals Hall from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 instead.
During construction, the airport’s long-term car park shuttle bus and SkyBus will pick up travelers in front of Terminal 1, instead of directly in front of Terminal 2.
The Arrivals Hall expansion will be complete by the end of 2020.