Stage 1 opens with immediate benefits for passengers
Stage 1 of the five-year, $330M expansion of Melbourne Airport's international terminal (Terminal 2) has opened, with passengers set to be the big winners from a completely new concourse that has added more than 7000m2 to T2.
The new concourse, which was completed in two years and looks out over the airfield from the existing terminal, allows for five new aircraft parking locations, with three dual-level aerobridges to accommodate an A380 'superjumbo' or two smaller aircraft.
Passengers can now view the North/South runway through floor-to-ceiling windows, while arriving passengers will feel as though they're part of the airfield experience as they arrive in the new concourse and walk through to the main terminal building.
Stage 1 of the T2 redevelopment is just one part of a five-year expansion plan for Melbourne Airport that represents one of the largest infrastructure investments undertaken in Victoria over that period, with approximately 1000 people employed in its construction.
The expansion plans represent the largest upgrade to Melbourne Airport's facilities since it was built in the 1960s. Some 27,450 tonnes of concrete, 2000 tonnes of steel, 20km of cabling, 15km of hydroponic heating pipes, 5900 square metres of tiling and 3800 square metres of glass have been used in the expansion of T2.
Three airlines – V Australia, Qatar Airways and Viva Macau – will commence new services from Melbourne's T2 in the first fortnight after the opening of the Stage 1 redevelopment.
To complement Stage 1 of the redevelopment and the opening of the new concourse, future development plans for T2 include:
Outbound passenger processing
November 2007 to May 2010
- Space in the outbound passenger processing zone will be increased
- Security screening will be undertaken before Customs (rather than after) to improve the efficiency of processing for passengers
- X-ray stations will increase from six to 10
- Customs desks will increase from 18 to 24
- This project will add approximately 3000m2 of floor space to the T2 Departures level
Passenger lounge facilities
November 2008 to December 2011
- This new retail precinct for international passengers will add more than 5000m2 of additional space to T2, while a major redevelopment of existing facilities is being undertaken
- This project will add 50 per cent more cafe, lounge and specialty store space to T2
- There will be at least 10 new retail outlets in the new area
- Ten-metre high glass walls will provide passengers with unrivalled views of the airfield
- The area has been designed to incorporate some signature elements and design features of distinctive Melbourne architecture