Most people don’t think about runways when they travel. You get to the airport, check in and find your gate. What’s happening out on the tarmac isn’t usually top of mind until you’re taking off.
However, behind the scenes, runways do the heavy lifting. They guide how many flights an airport can handle, how smoothly things run and how much flexibility airlines have when planning their schedules.
That’s exactly why we’re building a third runway. As Victoria keeps growing, this project will help our state stay one step ahead. It will support more flights, create more choice for travellers and keep Melbourne connected to the rest of Australia and the world.
So, if you’ve heard about the Third Runway Project and want to know why it’s needed or what it means for your next trip, let’s walk through it together.
Why is Melbourne Airport building a third runway?
Melbourne is growing, and so is the number of flights coming and going from our city each day. To keep things running smoothly well into the future, the airport needs a new runway for aircraft to land and take off.
What does that look like in practice?
A new 3,000-metre-long runway that will allow for parallel runway operations
More room to support up to 76 million passengers a year by 2042 (up from 36 million in 2025)
Around 136,500 extra flights annually, giving you greater choice and flexibility
Around 37,000 new jobs in Victoria by 2046
An estimated $5.9 billion added to the state’s economy each year
Plus, with the airport already handling five of the 10 busiest flight routes in the country - and no parallel runway system in place - the pressure is only growing. This is about building what’s needed before it becomes a problem, so travellers and airlines don’t feel the squeeze later on.
The new runway will sit alongside our existing north-south runway, matching its north-south orientation. This type of setup, called a parallel runway system, means flights can arrive and depart our airport at the same time.
The existing east-west runway will continue to play an important role, particularly to enable a greater number of runway operating modes outside of peak periods. Melbourne Airport is currently one of the few major airports without a parallel runway system in operation. The new runway will change that, helping Melbourne keep pace with growing demand for air travel and freight.
Following a detailed environmental and social impact assessment and public consultation process, the Federal Government approved the project’s Major Development Plan in September 2024. Melbourne Airport’s third runway sits within a broader 20-year Master Plan, which maps out how we'll continue to grow in line with the needs of travellers, the city and the region.
For Melbourne, this means an airport that can keep up with demand, avoiding major delays and bottlenecks. For Victoria, this infrastructure project will bring new jobs, stronger trade links and a lift to the state’s economy that supports more than just air travel. And for the broader Australian aviation network, it adds capacity where it’s needed, helping the whole system run more reliably, even as the skies get busier.
How will the third runway make travel smoother for passengers?
Most travellers don’t think about what’s happening out on the airfield. But they do feel the effects when things back up. A third runway enables us to keep things flowing, so you spend less time waiting and more time moving.
Here’s what that looks like, from arrival to take off:
Fewer delays thanks to added runway capacity. Delays often begin when the number of aircraft needing to land or depart exceeds what the runways can handle efficiently. The new runway allows more planes to land and take off without long queues building up. Combined with new connecting taxiways, the entire airfield will operate more smoothly, which means less time sitting on the tarmac, less circling in the air and more flights running on schedule, especially when the airport is at its busiest.
Better chance at cheaper fares. When there are more airlines going to more routes, there are more chances for competition, which means better prices for passengers. With a third runway, airlines can offer more frequent services, creating better conditions for affordable fares. With less pressure on time slots, there’s more flexibility in how flights are priced and planned, and that can lead to better deals for you.
Smoother international connections. Missed connections aren’t just frustrating. They can throw off your entire trip. A new runway gives airlines more breathing room to schedule long-haul and connecting flights in ways that run to time, which means fewer last-minute dashes, less uncertainty, and a smoother path from one flight to the next.
When the whole system runs a little more smoothly, so does your journey.
How will the third runway affect airfares and airline choice?
A third runway won’t guarantee cheaper fares, but it does give airlines more flexibility to operate additional flights and offer new routes. More capacity supports more competition. And when airlines have more room to grow, passengers generally benefit through better choice and more opportunities for competitive pricing.
When is the third runway expected to open?
When you’re building something that will shape travel for decades, it’s going to take time. A lot of work goes into making sure everything is safe, considered, and done properly. That’s why the Third Runway Project is being planned and built over several years.
If you’re looking for a simple timeline, here’s how things are tracking:
2024 – Federal Government approved the Third Runway Major Development Plan
2025 – Early construction works kicked off, along with planning for noise sharing which is a key condition of the Federal Government’s approval of our third runway
2026 – Main construction works will begin
2030 – Testing and operational readiness activities get underway
2031 – The third runway is expected to open for flights
Like any major infrastructure project, some of these dates may shift a little. But the aim is to keep things moving at a steady pace, with as little disruption to travellers as possible.
Will construction affect my trip to the airport?
Most of the heavy construction is happening out of sight. However, you might notice things moving differently on your way to the airport. It’s worth giving yourself a bit of buffer time just in case traffic builds up or we’ve needed to set up a temporary detour.
We’re working hand-in-hand with stakeholders, from construction crews to ground transport teams, to keep things running as smoothly as possible.
What about aircraft noise? Will it affect local communities?
We know this question is front of mind for many people who live near the airport. As we plan for more flights, there will be changes to noise for some communities.
To help manage these noise impacts, we’re developing the following plans:
Noise Sharing Plan: While no airport can eliminate aircraft noise completely, this plan aims to distribute aircraft noise across different areas, with meaningful breaks for communities. This work is being guided by independent experts, Trax and GHD, and will be endorsed by Airservices Australia before being sent to the Federal Government for approval.
Noise Amelioration Plan: This strategy aims to help manage and reduce the effects of aircraft noise in eligible homes, schools and other sensitive buildings in Brimbank and Hume. Community input will help shape what support and measures will be rolled out.
Community Health Study: One of the conditions of approval for the project is an independently led study to understand the potential health impacts of aircraft noise from the third runway on communities surrounding the airport. The study will begin before the third runway is operating and for 20 years after that.
Importantly, these plans are shaped by feedback from people who live and work around the airport.
How is the airport doing this responsibly?
Every major project leaves a footprint, and building something this big comes with responsibility to the land, to culture and to the people who live around it. As the project develops, there are key steps involved:
First Nations partnerships – Before any work begins, we’re guided by a Cultural Heritage Management Plan that is approved by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation. This ensures that sacred places are properly identified and preserved.
Protecting flora and fauna – We’ve worked to avoid sensitive habitats where we can. Where we can’t, we’re offsetting the impact through habitat restoration and conservation. All works will also be carefully managed through fencing, revegetation and safely relocating wildlife with the help of local ecologists.
Managing PFAS properly – PFAS at Melbourne Airport needs careful handling, and we’re following strict environmental processes to do just that.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions – We’re also thinking long-term about greenhouse gas emissions, not just from construction, but from how the runway will run over time. That includes tracking, reducing and reporting our impact as the project takes shape.
This is key to building responsibly and with care, making sure what we put in place today still holds up decades down the track.
A better flying future to come
Big projects like this don’t happen overnight, and they shouldn’t. Taking the time to plan properly, to listen and to do things the right way might not always be the fastest route. However, it’s essential to ensure the project is safe and successful.
Melbourne is growing and so are the needs of the people who live, work and travel here. Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway Project is about staying ahead of that growth.
If you’ve got more questions or want to keep an eye on how things unfold, you can check the FAQs, sign up for updates or drop the team a note at newrunway@melair.com.au.