What the Third Runway Fact Sheets Tell Us About Melbourne Airport's Project
Melbourne Airport's Third Runway Project is a $3 billion, privately funded build expected to open in 2031. One of the many ways we share key facts about this major project is through official fact sheets. They cover everything from why the runway is needed and how it's being built, through to what it means for noise, community health and the environment.
For some, these fact sheets can be a fair bit to work through, especially those unfamiliar with airport jargon. From technical planning to community impacts, we’ve outlined what each fact sheet covers in plain English, so you can find the details most relevant to you.
What Is Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway Project?
The Third Runway Project is the 3,000-metre new runway being built 1.3 kilometres to the west of the existing north-south runway. This will create a parallel runway system, which means more capacity for planes to take off and land at the same time, bringing Melbourne Airport in line with how other major airports across Australia already operate.
Here’s why we need a third runway right now:
By 2032, Melbourne’s population is expected to reach 6 million, overtaking Sydney as Australia’s largest city. That growth will drive more demand for air travel than our current runway system can handle.
In FY2025, we saw 36 million passengers through our terminals. That number is forecast to nearly double to 76 million by 2042.
Flight delays and cancellations are on the rise. With the current setup, recovery from disruptions is becoming even harder to manage.
The two runways we have now can't operate at the same time, which limits how many flights can move through on any given day.
Melbourne Airport handles almost 40% of Australia's air freight exports. With freight demand growing alongside passenger numbers, the existing runway capacity won't be enough.
Part of Melbourne Airport’s 20-year Master Plan, it's a big infrastructure project that’s been years in the making to keep up with Victoria’s growth. The draft Third Runway Major Development Plan went through 104 days of public consultation before submission to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for approval. On 10 September 2024, the Minister approved it with a range of approval conditions and initiatives that Melbourne Airport must deliver.
Early works got underway in 2025, covering access roads and initial site preparation. The major construction phase follows in 2026, with earthworks, taxiways and runway construction works timed to keep the airport running throughout. Operational testing is scheduled for 2030, with the new runway expected to open in 2031.
What’s the Current Runway System at Melbourne Airport Now?
Melbourne Airport currently operates two runways. There's the existing north-south runway, Runway 16/34, which carries around 71% of all flights, and the east-west runway, Runway 09/27, which handles the rest. These two runways intersect, which means only one can be in use at a time.
Together, they manage all aircraft movements across Australia's busiest 24/7 international airport. Which runway gets used at any given time mostly comes down to the wind. Aircraft land and take off into the wind wherever possible, so southerly winds in summer tend to put Runway 16 to work, while northerly winds in winter shift things to Runway 34. Airservices Australia coordinates all of this as part of the airport's operation, working with air traffic control at Tullamarine around the clock.
What Do the Third Runway Fact Sheets Tell Us About the Project?
Melbourne Airport’s Third Runway fact sheets tell us that the project goes well beyond runway construction. They cover aircraft noise and the plans to manage it, an independent 20-year health study for communities near the airport, and how we’re addressing the environmental impacts across greenhouse gas emissions, PFAS and local flora and fauna.
Aircraft Noise and How It Will Be Managed
The third runway will add 136,500 arrivals and departures to Melbourne Airport each year, supporting 37,000 additional jobs in Victoria by 2046 and contributing $5.9 billion to the state economy annually. But that can also mean more aircraft noise. Some communities near the airport will hear it for the first time. Others will hear more or notice it coming from different directions.
Here’s what we’re doing about it:
Noise Sharing and Airspace Concept Plan: Together with Airservices Australia and other key stakeholders, we’re developing the concept design for how aircraft noise is shared across surrounding communities. That includes redesigning flight paths and coordinating with other Melbourne Basin aerodromes, including Essendon Airport and Moorabbin Airport, so the airspace works for everyone. The goal is to make sure no single suburb carries the noise burden every day, and that communities get genuine periods of respite when conditions allow.
Noise Amelioration Plan and Program: For homes and public buildings in Hume and Brimbank most affected by noise, eligible residential properties, schools, childcare facilities and health centres could receive practical acoustic upgrades, including insulation, double glazing and improved vents and seals, paid for by Melbourne Airport. A draft plan is due for submission to the Federal Government in September 2026.
Eastern Extension Project: The east-west runway is central to how we share aircraft noise across surrounding communities. With the third runway, Melbourne Airport moves from 8 to 14 operating modes, giving us significantly more flexibility to distribute noise so no single area bears it every day. Building the third runway does require temporarily shortening the east-west runway by 346 metres, but the Eastern Extension Project restores it to its original 2,286-metre length, so it remains fully available for noise sharing at night and during off-peak periods.
Long-Term Health Monitoring for the Communities Nearby
As a condition of the Federal Government's approval, Melbourne Airport is required to commission an independent Community Health Study. The first of its kind at any major Australian airport, this study will look into the impacts of aircraft noise on surrounding communities.
Here's how it works:
Before the runway opens, independent health experts will collect baseline data. That starting point is what gives the long-term findings their credibility.
For 20 years after opening, the study tracks specific health impacts associated with aircraft noise, including sleep disturbance, annoyance, communication interference and effects on childhood learning.
An independent team of health experts from Deakin and Liverpool universities developed the terms of reference for the study. These were submitted to the Federal Government in September 2025 for approval. A separate independent expert team will then carry out the study itself.
The Third Runway's Impact on the Environment and How We're Addressing It
An infrastructure project this size has environmental consequences, and we want to be straight with you about them. More flights mean more emissions, and building the new runway means clearing some native vegetation. Then there's legacy PFAS contamination from past firefighting activities on site that needs careful management.
Here's what we're doing about each:
Greenhouse gas emissions: Once the runway is operational, Melbourne Airport's total annual emissions are estimated to reach 1,162 kilotonnes of CO2-e, up from 814 kilotonnes without it. That's a real increase. For the emissions we directly control, covering airport operations and construction activity, we're committed to a 10% reduction below what they would otherwise be. We're also working with airlines, supporting sustainable aviation fuel and backing more fuel-efficient aircraft to reduce what we can't control directly.
Flora and fauna: Building the third runway means clearing native habitat at Tullamarine, including Grey Box Woodland that the critically endangered Swift Parrot relies on for foraging, Natural Temperate Grassland and Growling Grass Frog habitat. To make up for what's lost, we're securing and permanently managing environmental offset land, both within the airport precinct and at locations across Victoria.
PFAS: These are man-made chemicals that have built up in airport soils from decades of firefighting foam use. They don't break down easily, which is why careful management matters. We monitor PFAS in line with environmental regulations and have developed a government-approved PFAS Management Plan that covers the safe reuse of affected soil, preventing runoff from reaching local waterways and managing known contamination areas.
How Can You Join the Discussion?
The Third Runway Project has been approved, but that doesn't mean the conversation is over. There are still several active workstreams where your input counts, each with specific windows for community feedback. The Have Your Say page on Melbourne Airport Projects Hub shows you what's open right now and how to get involved. If you'd rather talk to someone in person, we hold regular community pop-ups where you can ask questions and hear directly from the project team.
Stay Across Melbourne Airport's Third Runway Project
Melbourne Airport publishes Third Runway Project fact sheets covering why the runway is needed and how it's being built, what it means for aircraft noise, how we're monitoring the long-term health of surrounding communities, and how we're managing the environmental impact. They're the most direct way to understand what the project involves and where things stand right now.
To keep up with the latest on the project, you can sign up for updates or watch videos and webinars on the Melbourne Airport Projects Hub website. If you'd rather talk to someone directly, you can send us an email at newrunway@melair.com.au or call the team on (03) 9297 1597.