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Melbourne Airport has officially opened its new Taxiway Delta, which it says is part of its largest airfield expansion in more than a decade.
Tuesday saw the first aircraft to use the taxiway, Jetstar A321 VH-VWX on flight JQ514 to Sydney, greeted with a water-cannon salute. The 800-metre taxiway runs parallel to the airport’s east-west (09/27) runway, and was constructed over 11 months with 43,000m3 of concrete pavement.
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Jim Parashos, chief of aviation at Melbourne Airport, said the task of expanding an airport in a 24/7 environment is like “playing Tetris”.
“Each piece of the puzzle has an impact on the other, which is why the sequencing of our works takes years of planning to get right,” Parashos said.
“The completion of Taxiway Delta essentially enables us to shift operations further north, eventually giving us space to expand the whole international terminal.
“Getting these works completed ahead of the busy easter holiday period is wonderful, as the taxiway will add much needed capacity into the airfield’s operations.
“The taxiway has been constructed with the latest concrete pavement technology along with new LED lighting, reducing the need for maintenance which can cause congestion and delays.
According to Parashos, the project is the first step towards the airport’s planned international terminal expansion.
“Anyone that has come through our international terminal during peak times would know we simply don’t have enough space to cater for our growing passenger volumes, so it’s imperative we work hard to complete our terminal expansion plans and deliver a better experience for our passengers.”
The airport is currently in the midst of a $500 million overhaul of its international baggage systems, with a new “tote-based” system to allow anytime check-in and early bag storage to increase capacity.
It is now in discussions regarding an expanded international satellite with up to five new wide-body gates and more room for shops, passenger waiting areas and airline lounges.
Its third runway, greenlit last year and built parallel to the existing north-south runway and 1.3 kilometres to the west, is planned to open in 2031 and would allow for simultaneous take-offs and landings.
