- Qantas and Melbourne Airport have signed a 15-year commercial agreement
- The partnership supports a $4.5 billion terminal expansion
- Five new wide-body gates will be added to the airport
- A new Qantas International Business Lounge opens by 2029
- The third runway is scheduled to open in 2031
The Qantas Group and Melbourne Airport have signed a landmark 15-year commercial agreement to unlock more international flights and support a major airport expansion. Announced by Melbourne Airport and Qantas, this partnership has underpinned a massive $4.5 billion international terminal expansion program. The project has been designed to future-proof the airport for rising global travel demand and improve the experience for millions of travellers.
The terminal expansion supports the addition of five new wide-body aircraft gates. The agreement includes a 15-year commitment to support the airport’s new third runway, which has been scheduled to open in 2031. Qantas plans to base some of its new Airbus A350-1000LR aircraft in Melbourne to unlock brand-new, ultra-long-haul destinations. A brand new Qantas International Business Lounge will be built above Terminal 2, offering up to one-third more space and panoramic runway views by 2029. Travellers will benefit from automated bag drops, faster check-in zones, an expanded baggage reclaim hall, and streamlined customs areas.
The project will be rolled out in stages to keep the airport running smoothly. Preliminary construction will start shortly after new passenger pick-up and drop-off zones open in September 2026. This expansion will allow Qantas and Jetstar to grow past their current 17 international routes out of Melbourne, significantly boosting Victoria’s tourism economy. The deal aligns with Melbourne’s multi billion dollar terminal expansion and includes additional widebody gates.
