Melbourne Airport aims for new T4 domestic terminal by July 2014

Melbourne Airport aims to begin work on its new T4 domestic terminal in October this year with an opening date of July 2014.

The $300m development will also include a new multi-level car park, widened approach roads to the airport, new baggage facilities and additional aircraft gates, parking aprons and taxi lanes "to accommodate future growth."

In a statement issued today, Melbourne Airport predicted "the project is expected to create up to 400 jobs on site at any one time during the 16?month construction period."

As with the existing T1 and T3 domestic terminals, T4 will be under the same roof as (albeit a long walk away from) Melbourne's T2 international terminal – a traveller-friendly design which Sydney Airport aims to replicate with its own radical make-over revealed late last year.

Melbourne's new Terminal Four building will replace the current stand-alone T4 'shed' used by Tiger Airways, and cater for what the airport described as "the potential for growth in the domestic, low cost carrier market.

But according to Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff "we can't say which airline or airlines will be using the new terminal, as those discussions are still to be had with the airlines," Woodruff told The Age.

The T4 project also includes improvements to airport road access, including extending APAC Drive to the front of T4 and widening Mercer Drive to become the main entrance to the airport precinct off the the Tullamarine Freeway.

Virgin Australia's home at T3 will also be extended and given a much-needed refresh to "take into account the anticipated growth of Virgin Australia as their business grows."

Woodruff is also hopeful of another airport hotel being built near T4. However, there's been no advancement on plans for an airport train from the city to the international terminal.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.