What to expect from Melbourne airport’s new landside redevelopment

2 May, 2019

Melbourne Airport's traveller numbers continue to grow, going from 36.7 million people in FY 17/18 with forecasts exceeding 70 people per year by 2038. To cater to Melbourne's growth the airport's retail and hospitality offering will improve and expand to truly reflect the city's famous culinary scene.

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The next retail upgrade to take place is the airport's Landside redevelopment, which will see the airport welcome 13 new cafes and restaurants across Terminals 2 and 3. The new venues will include popular Melbourne chef-based concepts that will excite visitors to the city and Victorians alike.

As part of the project, the surrounding environment will be upgraded to improve the overall traveller experience and reflect the developments that have been delivered over recent years.

In Dec-2017 Melbourne Airport launched its T2 Luxury Precinct, which contains 11 high-end retailers including Burberry, Tiffany & Co and Salvatore Ferragamo. Some of Melbourne's best-known restaurants and cafes also launched in the precinct including Shannon Bennett's Café Vue and Frank Camorra's Bar Pulpo by MoVida.

Building on the success of the T2 Luxury Precinct Melbourne Airport plans on investing in a second large scale retail and hospitality development in Terminal 2 airside. The re-imagined precinct will be located next to the existing airside restaurants to elevate the pre-flight experience for international travellers. It will feature 30 new specialty retail and hospitality outlets, including Melbourne inspired gifting plus curations from galleries, in addition to well-known international lifestyle brands.

The space would also include premium airline lounges, a mezzanine area with a restaurant and bar and larger gate lounges creating a world-class terminal experience. A rooftop piazza will also be built that will include an eatery and bar that contains a viewing deck with expansive views of the airfield - creating a true sense of Melbourne's CBD and foodie culture.

The total 4-storey development would see the airport's T2 footprint increase by approximately 15,000m2 including around 4,500m2 for airline lounges and 3,500m2 of dedicated retail space. In addition, the arrivals experience will be revamped to showcase a better welcome to Melbourne.

The rooftop restaurant and bar would be approximately 600m2 in addition to a large viewing deck.

Construction of the T2 terminal expansion is set to commence in early 2020 with an opening date forecast for mid to late 2023.