Terminal 4, Melbourne Airport, Victoria

Terminal 4 is the newly commissioned domestic terminal at Melbourne Airport. Image courtesy of SDP Media.

Terminal 4 is the first completely self-service check-in operation terminal in the Asia Pacific region. Image courtesy of SDP Media.

Domestic departures at Melbourne Airport. Image courtesy of SDP Media.

Tigerair Australia flight TT206 was the first to depart from the new terminal. Image courtesy of Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) Pty Ltd.

The new Terminal 4 features a range of retail, and food and beverage outlets. Image courtesy of SDP Media.

The second busiest airport in Australia, Victoria’s Melbourne Airport commissioned a new domestic terminal in August 2015. The move marks the start of a $1bn phased-expansion announced in 2012 as part of Melbourne Airport‘s biggest transformation project, which will see an investment of up to $10bn over the next 20 years.

The new terminal (T4), built with a capacity to handle ten million passengers a year, is meant for three airlines, which include Tigerair Australia, the low-cost carrier which has already started services, and Jetstar and Regional Express (Rex), which will start services in the near future.

The larger investment is aimed to strengthen the airport’s position in domestic air travel and also provide a significant boost to Victoria’s economy by creating employment during the construction and operation of the airport.

Project background

The new terminal is part of the Southern Precinct project, which is a part of the $1bn expansion programme. Estimated to cost approximately $550m, the Southern Precinct project includes construction of a new terminal building, an elevated cross concourse and a new Pier G, and renovation of the existing buildings adjacent to the new terminal.

The Southern Precinct programme also includes the development of 35 additional aircraft parking aprons, taxi lanes and two new multi-level facilities with car parking spaces for ground transport.

It will further involve the development of the airport’s road network, including upgrade of existing roads and construction of new road system such as the airport drive, which will connect the airport to the Western Ring Road.

Construction details and facilities of the Terminal 4

The new terminal construction began in late-2013 and took two years to complete. It utilised approximately 6,500m³ of concrete, which is equivalent to five Olympic-size pools, and employed an average of 240 workers a day.

Located south of Terminal 3, the new terminal is a three-storey facility built over an area of 20,000m². The ground level of the terminal features self-service, check-in kiosks and latest automated bag drop facilities. Level-1 houses ten self-service check-in kiosks, security checks, departure lounge, and a range of retail and dining outlets.

The departure lounge has a seating capacity of 1,200 and features floor-to-ceiling windows, which provide a sweeping view of the airfield. It features 30 retail and food and beverage stores that offer a variety of shopping and dining options for the passengers. Large electronic display screens are installed in the terminal to provide flight information.

Contractors involved with the new passenger terminal

The contract for the construction of the new terminal along with an integrated transport facility was awarded to Leighton Contractors in October 2013. The $370m contract is being delivered by Leighton in partnership with its subsidiary Broad Construction. It involves the construction of a seven-storey car park, an underground service tunnel, elevated roads and ramps, electrical substation and ancillary infrastructure.

Australia-based company Root Projects was awarded the contract for managing the design, documentation, tendering and contract administration for the terminal and airside works.

Arup was contracted to deliver building and infrastructure design services for the Southern Precinct project.

Other infrastructure developments at Melbourne Airport

A new taxiway, named as Victor, is being constructed at the south-end of the main terminal area. It will add 45,000m² of area and cater to the increasing flight traffic at the airport.

Construction of a new airfield lighting building is scheduled for completion by the end of 2015, while the entire taxiway project is scheduled for completion in early 2016.

The southern apron is being expanded with the addition of three new freight stands to support freight operations and provide stand-off parking for aircraft. The apron will create 21 new aircraft parking bays for the daily operations at T4. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.