Melbourne Airport will open new public pick up and drop off zones for terminals 1, 2 and 3 on October 6 – 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 will offer significantly more space than the current congested departures ramp, paving 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.
From October 6, anyone heading to pick up or drop off for any airline will need to leave the Tullamarine Freeway earlier at Exit 19 (Naarm Way) and use the elevated roadway to access all terminals. Access to parking remains unchanged.
Pick up drivers who arrive early can continue to use the airport’s 60-minute free wait zone, located off Mercer Drive, and can access the new pick up area from Airport Drive and Naarm Way.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the new facilities would help the airport better serve growing volumes of traffic and travellers.
“With more than 100,000 people using Melbourne Airport every day and annual passenger numbers predicted to reach 75 million people by 2047, we need to expand our precinct,” she said.
Argus acknowledged the change would take some adjustment, saying extra staff would be on hand to support drivers and passengers as the new zones bed in. She said the changes would separate private and commercial vehicles, give drivers more space, and provide passengers with comfortable, sheltered places to wait.
As part of the changes, the current departures ramp will close on October 6, clearing the way for work to begin on expanding the international terminal footprint into the forecourt.
The airport is also partnering with Travellers Aid to extend its free Melbourne Airport Assist service to the new pick up and drop off zones, ensuring passengers needing assistance are supported throughout their journey through the precinct.
To help drivers prepare ahead of the opening, Melbourne Airport has launched an online journey planner showing what the trip will look like from the Tullamarine Freeway or Sunbury Road. It can be accessed at melbourneairport.com.au
