The New Runway That’s Shaping Melbourne’s Future

Melbourne is welcoming more people and more possibilities. As we grow, it’s only natural to think about what’s needed to keep everything running smoothly in the years ahead. And strong cities grow best when their foundations are set early to make room for the future.

That’s exactly where Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway Project fits in.

This new runway is a long-term investment to support the city as it grows, bringing more jobs, more business opportunities and more travellers.

A new runway gives Melbourne the added capacity and flexibility it will rely on as demand for air travel continues to rise. The plan is simple: build now for the decades ahead.

Here’s why this matters for Melbourne’s future:

• The city’s population is on track for six million by the early 2030s, which means more movements through the airport every year.

• Passenger activity is forecast to rise from 36 million in FY2025 to around 76 million travellers a year by 2042, a shift that calls for additional runway capacity.

• The routes of approximately 60 per cent of all aircraft operating domestic and narrow body short-haul international flights typically cycle through Melbourne Airport each and every weekday

• A second north-south runway means two planes can land or take off at the same time, which helps keep things moving during the busiest times of the day.

• The 3,000-metre-long runway provides even more capacity for wide-body and long-haul aircraft that use Melbourne Airport

The current runway layout has served the city well for more than 55 years – but with more growth coming, a third runway gives us more capacity. This means Victoria can continue to attract more visitors and move more freight.

Reliable aviation infrastructure underpins a strong, modern economy. When flights depart on time and peak-hour operations run smoothly, businesses can plan logistics, staffing and investment with greater certainty. This new runway is designed to provide that reliability as demand continues to grow.

Here’s how the runway will support long-term economic strength:

• A parallel layout increases airfield capacity during the busiest parts of the day, reducing congestion and minimising delays when demand is highest.

• More efficient aircraft movements are particularly important for time-sensitive freight. Exporters of fresh produce, medical supplies and other perishable goods rely on predictable departure windows to meet international market requirements and contractual deadlines.

• Improved runway resilience also helps the aviation network recover more quickly from disruptions such as weather events or peak travel surges. Faster recovery reduces flow-on delays across the national network.

Melbourne Airport already supports six of Australia’s 10 busiest domestic routes. Additional runway capacity helps maintain the reliability of these high-volume connections, which are critical to business travel, tourism and interstate commerce.

By strengthening operational reliability today, the new runway provides a foundation for sustained economic growth – supporting business confidence, trade and connectivity not just for Melbourne, but for the entire country.

Major aviation infrastructure is designed to last for generations, which means it must be well planned beyond today’s travel patterns. The new runway forms part of Melbourne Airport’s 20-year Master Plan, which sets out how the airport will grow in line with expected population growth, rising passenger demand and changing aviation needs.

The new runway is also governed by a Major Development Plan approved by the Federal Government. This process ensures the project aligns with national aviation planning, environmental requirements and long-term capacity needs, providing certainty for airlines, regulators and the broader transport network.

Viewed in this context, the runway is not a standalone project but part of an integrated system designed to support higher passenger volumes, manage peak demand and maintain reliable operations as Melbourne continues to grow.

We are building infrastructure that can adapt as the city evolves – supporting connectivity, economic activity and confidence in Melbourne’s role as Australia’s key aviation gateway for decades to come.

Planning a major runway involves more than just construction. It requires coordination across the aviation system, careful assessment of impacts and ongoing engagement with the communities affected by change. Our approach is built around these principles, with measures in place to manage impacts transparently over the long term.

Key elements of this approach include:

• Close coordination with Airservices Australia to design future flight paths that work within the broader national airspace system and support long-term aviation planning

• A long-term Community Health Study – led by independent experts – to  understand potential aircraft noise impacts on nearby communities. The study will begin before the new runway is operating to collect baseline data, and continue for 20 years once the new runway begins operating

• A Noise Sharing Plan designed to provide periods of respite from aircraft noise for the most impacted communities, outside of peak hours, and where weather and operational conditions allow

• A Noise Amelioration Plan offering practical support for eligible homes and community buildings located in higher-impact areas in Brimbank and Hume, helping to mitigate the effects of increased aircraft noise

• Ongoing community engagement through regular community pop-ups, briefings communications tools - like fact sheets and videos - ensuring residents have access to clear information and can raise questions as the project progresses

Taken together, these measures reflect a planning process focused on transparency and accountability – recognising that long-term infrastructure must balance growth with the needs of the communities it serves.

Big projects like our third runway take time. Early stages focus on approvals, planning and site preparation, followed by several years of construction and testing before the new runway becomes operational. This staged approach allows complex aviation infrastructure to be delivered safely, predictably and in coordination with the wider network.

Here’s the current timeline:

• 2024 – Approval of the Major Development Plan received from the Federal Government

• 2025 – Preliminary works began, including site preparation and early coordination with construction and aviation providers

• 2026 – Main construction works expected to begin, covering earthworks, pavement construction and airfield layout changes

• 2030-2031 – Testing and operational readiness activities get underway, ensuring systems, procedures and safety requirements are fully met

• 2031 – The new runway is expected to open for flights

As these milestones are reached, the broader economic impacts begin to flow. Construction alone is expected to support thousands of local jobs, while over the longer term the project is forecast to contribute around 37,000 additional jobs across Victoria by 2046, reflecting the runway’s role in supporting growth in aviation, freight, tourism and related industries.

Big projects are necessary as a city grows, and the new runway will deliver significant benefits to Melbourne and Victoria.

Follow the project’s progress by signing up for updates or reaching out to our team at newrunway@melair.com.au.