Melbourne Airport unveils $4.5 billion international terminal expansion

Per Lucky over at OMAAT, AA is getting 17 (seventeen) new gates at MIA, and a significant expansion of existing terminal space. The cost is USD1.1 billion … AUD1.54 billion. American Airlines Plans Miami Airport Terminal Expansion, With 17 New Gates

Why are we spending $3 billion more, for less?

And why should passengers be forced to pay for it? We should only have to pay for essentials. Airlines should pay for check-in upgrades, it’s all included in the fare.
 
MEL_Traveller said:
Per Lucky over at OMAAT, AA is getting 17 (seventeen) new gates at MIA, and a significant expansion of existing terminal space. The cost is USD1.1 billion … AUD1.54 billion. American Airlines Plans Miami Airport Terminal Expansion, With 17 New Gates

Why are we spending $3 billion more, for less?

And why should passengers be forced to pay for it? We should only have to pay for essentials. Airlines should pay for check-in upgrades, it’s all included in the fare.
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Multiple articles suggest WSI cost $5.3bn to build, runways, roadways and all. It's hard to fathom where $4.5bn is being spent. And this isn't a government "big build" project with all the grift that goes with it from both unions and the private sector, its being undertaken by a private entity. That's about 1/3 the cost of the airport rail extension. And for that money you could build 3 entire hospitals, probably built with their own grift to boot:


I assume the majority of the cost comes in keeping the airport running during construction.
 
Some overlays from SSC form on where the Airport Rail will likely sit based on prior info versus the T1 redevelopment.

(The green box is probably a little too close to T1 but you get the picture)

1000014264.png
 
[mod hat]
Political posts have been removed and infractions issued.

AFF is not the place to comment on various political interactions.
[/mod hat]
 
Costs aside, this is a needed expansion. Ever since I've regularly started arriving back to Aus via MEL, I've always felt its bad compared to SYD and SYD isn't exactly great.
 
elanshin said:
Costs aside, this is a needed expansion. Ever since I've regularly started arriving back to Aus via MEL, I've always felt its bad compared to SYD and SYD isn't exactly great.
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They actually built all the extra space and expanded.

And created ‘Tulla Lakes’ shopping centre and filled it with shops and food outlets.

Without all of those the airport would have plenty of space for everything it needs, in its current form.
 
I assume the new passenger charges only apply to tickets booked from a certain date? I have several trips to/from/via MEL in next 12 months and don't expect to have to pay anymore, the tickets were already expensive enough.

Current arrivals into MEL international do feel very cramped, it can only improve I assume. I never visit any of the shops as always go straight to the F (international) or J (Domestic) lounges.
 
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Aeryn said:
I assume the new passenger charges only apply to tickets booked from a certain date? I have several trips to/from/via MEL in next 12 months and don't expect to have to pay anymore, the tickets were already expensive enough.

Current arrivals into MEL international do feel very cramped, it can only assume. I never visit any of the shops as always go straight to the F (international) or J (Domestic) lounges.
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Issued tickets are usually exempt from increases. The exceptions to this are if you change your ticket (leading to a reprice) or government tax increases. The latter can be collected as a surcharge, but that’s extremely rare. Usually new fees and charges apply to new tickets only.
 
Airport rail is the single best thing they can do to improve the passenger experience. The traffic from the freeway to the terminal can be horrendous at times.
 
aikman said:
Airport rail is the single best thing they can do to improve the passenger experience. The traffic from the freeway to the terminal can be horrendous at times.
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If only someone told the airport authority that more time getting to the airport or gridlocked = less time for shopping… wonder how quick they’d fix the traffic flow!!
 
Maybe if MEL waited longer, Albo will build a HSR between MEL and Melbourne CBD, similar to Sydney CBD to WSI.
 
aikman said:
Airport rail is the single best thing they can do to improve the passenger experience. The traffic from the freeway to the terminal can be horrendous at times.
Click to expand...
Personally I’ll probably never use the rail but agree that it is vital to the airport and should be magnificent when completed
 
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MEL Media

Big changes coming to Melbourne Airport on October 6

www.melbourneairport.com.au www.melbourneairport.com.au
Melbourne Airport will open its new public Pick up and Drop off zones for Terminals 1, 2 and 3 on October 6, in what will be the biggest change to the airport’s road network since it opened in 1970.

The new free Drop off zone on Level 3 of the T123 Transport Hub provides significantly more space than the current congested departures ramp and will pave the way for $4.5 billion in privately funded projects to expand the international terminal.

The new free, undercover Pick up zone on Level 2 of the T123 Transport Hub has more than 100 car spaces and will allow passengers to wait for their ride close to toilets and sheltered from Melbourne’s variable weather
<snip>
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ABC.net.au 07-09-2026
Melbourne Airport to open new pick-up and drop-off zones in October
In short:
New pick-up and drop-off zones at Melbourne Airport will open on October 6.
The changes will mean the airport's 56-year-old departures ramp will no longer be used.
The pick-up and drop-off zones are being moved to allow for the expansion of the international terminal.
<snip>
From October 6, the existing pick-up and drop-off zones at the airport will no longer operate and cars will have to use the new zones within the undercover parking area. The changes mean anyone heading to pick up or drop off at the airport will need to leave the Tullamarine Freeway earlier at Exit 19 and use the elevated roadway to access terminals.
<snip>
Click to expand...
 
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Wonder how much of the "Free zones" will be free for 15mins, or in other words, not really long enough to get to/from the terminal or wait for someone as they arrive - just like at SYD.
 

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