The Qantas Group and Melbourne Airport to unlock more flights, Airport expansion

The Qantas Group and Melbourne Airport have reached a commercial agreement in relation to key terms that will pave the way for more flights, international lounge upgrades, check-in enhancements and delivery of the airport’s third runway.

Key Agreement Points
- Commercial Deal: Qantas and Melbourne Airport reached terms to unlock more flights, improve lounges, and deliver a third runway.
- Terminal Expansion: Part of Melbourne Airport’s $4.5 billion international terminal upgrade, adding five widebody gates to support long-term growth.
- Third Runway: Scheduled to open in 2031, backed by a 15-year commitment from Qantas.

Airline Growth
- Jetstar: Already Melbourne’s largest carrier, with nearly 1,000 weekly flights at peak and ~45% of its domestic passengers. Expansion plans give Jetstar more room to grow.
- Qantas International Business Lounge: New lounge above Terminal 2, one-third larger than the current space, with panoramic airport views. Completion expected by 2029.
- Check-in Enhancements: Streamlined premium check-in, upgraded bag drops, and expanded baggage reclaim hall.

Fleet & Destinations
- Qantas will base some of its new Airbus A350-1000LRs at Melbourne, enabling flights to new international destinations not currently possible. - These aircraft complement the airline’s Project Sunrise ultra-long-range fleet.
- Currently, Qantas and Jetstar serve 17 international destinations from Melbourne, with plans to expand further.

Leadership Voices
- Rob Marcolina (Qantas CFO): Highlighted growth potential, improved customer experience, and new destinations.
- Lorie Argus (Melbourne Airport CEO): Called it the most significant upgrade in the airport’s history, combining infrastructure investment with Qantas’ fleet and customer experience improvements.

This partnership is positioned as a major boost for Victoria’s tourism economy and Melbourne’s role as Australia’s largest 24-hour gateway.