Thanks to AFL Grand Final Friday, September 2024 was one for Melbourne Airport’s record books. The Victorian hub reported its busiest day since 2019 with almost 119,740 passengers passing through its terminals and it was also Virgin Australia’s busiest-ever month since it started flying from MEL in May 2001.
The AFL Grand Final between the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans also helped deliver Melbourne Airport’s busiest week since the pandemic with 759,291 travellers between 24 and 30 September.
In addition to the jump in domestic traffic in September 2024, MEL welcomed 983,158 international travellers for a new all-time September record, representing 10 per cent year-on-year growth.
Across September, a total of 2,999,287 passengers used the airport, up 3.3 per cent year-on-year but down 3.8 per cent on September 2019.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said MEL is investing in infrastructure and initiatives to better serve passengers, including a new terminal road network, an airport-first uniform, a third runway to open in 2031 and an international terminal expansion.
“September was a milestone month for Melbourne Airport with some new record passenger numbers and the approval of our planned third runway,” she said.
“A new aerobridge at Gate 10 is scheduled to open in the coming weeks and the expansion of the Virgin Australia baggage hall is also progressing well with new escalators on track to open ahead of Christmas.
“The growth in international traveller numbers has been facilitated by new and increased flights and while that’s fantastic, it has also placed pressure on some of our terminal infrastructure during peak times.
“We are now in discussions with our airline partners about what an expansion of our international terminal footprint might look like and the timeframes in which it could be delivered,” she said.
For more info, head to melbourneairport.com.au
