Melbourne Airport Overhauls Pick Up and Drop Off Facilities Ahead of Major Expansion
| Company | Melbourne Airport |
|---|---|
| Date | 21.08.2026 |
Image credit: Melbourne Airport
New Pick Up and Drop Off facilities and online journey planner to support biggest change to airport access in more than 50 years
MELBOURNE, 20 August 2026 — Melbourne Airport is preparing to introduce a major change to its road network, with new Pick Up and Drop Off facilities due to open in October alongside an online journey planner designed to help passengers and visitors navigate the new arrangements.
The changes will represent the biggest transformation to Melbourne Airport’s road network since the airport opened in 1970. The new Pick Up and Drop Off zones will provide significantly more space than the existing congested departures ramp and forecourt.
The new facilities will also support the airport’s wider development plans, paving the way for $4.5 billion in privately funded projects to expand the international terminal.
The online journey planner allows passengers travelling on Qantas, Virgin Australia and international flights to preview the new routes to the Drop Off facilities, including the new exit from the Tullamarine Freeway and the corresponding approach from the north.
Passengers collecting travellers from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 can also use the tool to understand the new route to the airport’s free, undercover Pick Up zone.
Jai McDermott, Chief of Ground Transport at Melbourne Airport, said the journey planner would help passengers understand how their journeys would change before arriving at the airport.
“The opening of our new Pick up and Drop off zones in October will be a big change for our travellers,” he said.
Passengers travelling on Qantas, Virgin Australia and international flights will need to exit the Tullamarine Freeway earlier than they do currently and use new elevated roads to reach the Pick Up and Drop Off facilities.
The new facilities will operate in a similar way to the existing T4 Ground Transport hub, but on a significantly larger scale.
Melbourne Airport will have staff available to assist passengers as the new facilities open, while the online journey planner is intended to allow travellers to familiarise themselves with the new road network in advance.
The airport said the new free Pick Up and Drop Off facilities would provide a significant improvement over the congested areas that have been in use since 1970, effectively creating a new front entrance to the airport.
Alongside the changes to the road network, Melbourne Airport will also expand its complimentary Melbourne Airport Assist programme to provide additional support for people with mobility issues navigating the airport precinct.
The new Pick Up and Drop Off arrangements will come into effect in October 2026.
Source: Melbourne Airport
