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Travellers will no longer be able to kiss their loved ones hello or goodbye at Melbourne Airport’s terminal doors when a new pick-up and drop-off zone being built in the car park is completed.
The T123 Transport Hub will provide access to the airport terminals via a new pedestrian bridge.
“Later this year, we will be opening new pick-up and drop-off areas which represent the biggest change to the way people access Melbourne Airport in its 56-year history,” a spokesman for Melbourne Airport said.
“The days of being dropped right at the door are numbered because we need to close the current departures ramp so we can expand the international terminal.”
Passengers will have to walk between 172 and 350 metres to the terminal from the drop-off zone and between 285 and 380 metres to the pick-up zone depending on the terminal.
Growing passenger numbers, predicted to double by 2038 to 68 million, and traffic congestion at the airport have prompted the change, which is set to be implemented by Melbourne Airport in spring.
However, travellers are concerned it will make it more difficult to access the airport and to welcome and farewell family and friends.
Arjun Mohan was at the airport to drop off his partner, Malini V, for her flight to India this week and took their dog Furphy along for the farewell.
Mohan was surprised to hear of the change and said he did not understand why the airport would move to end drop-offs and pick-ups at the terminal doors.
“Of course we would like to drop off our loved ones near the terminal,” Mohan said. “Why would we want them to walk all the way?”
Fatumo Elmi, dropping off Badar Dore for his flight to San Francisco, said having to walk from a drop-off zone in the car park to the terminal would add unnecessary complication – but Dore was more positive about the change.
“A lot of airports are changing,” Dore said. “In the US that is the way they are going with the bigger hubs like JFK [in New York] and San Francisco.”
Waiting to be picked up, Melek Acar and Dursund Acar said they were worried about having to carry luggage across to the new pick-up and drop-off zone.
“I think they want us to spend the money for parking,” Acar said. “What’s wrong with the pick-up and drop-off where it is? There’s nothing wrong.”
Ramesh Kumar, who was dropping off his son Praj Gupta for a flight to India, said he would be sad to no longer be able to drop him off at the terminal door.
“An emotional send-off, that is more important,” he said. “You don’t want to just drop off in the car park and say, ‘Off you go’ sort of thing. It’s the last moment, but the best moment.”
Former MP Rod Barton, an advocate for taxi and gig workers, said the airport had outgrown the ramp for pick-up and drop-off.
“I am surprised there have not been more accidents up the top there as you have a lot of inexperienced drivers,” he said.
Barton said the downside was that people were going to have to walk from the car park to the terminals, which was not a hassle for fit and healthy people but would be more difficult for the elderly or people with mobility issues.
“Being a cynic, I wonder when they are going to start charging a fee for drop-off?” Barton said.
A Melbourne Airport spokesman said the new pick-up and drop-off zone would be free, but drivers who overstayed the designated waiting times would be directed to the car park.
Travellers in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues will have to use the same pick-up and drop-off zones but can use the Melbourne Airport assist program for free transfers in buggies or powered wheelchairs between 6am and 10pm.
The new transport hub will also be used by taxis and ride-share providers for drop-offs. Taxi and ride-share pick-up will remain in the airport’s forecourt.
A spokeswoman for 13cabs said the new arrangements would deliver a better experience for passengers by reducing congestion and making vehicle movement more efficient.
“For taxi users, that should translate into smoother operations and faster pick-up times, which is ultimately what matters most,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Uber said it was looking forward to working closely with Melbourne Airport to support the transition to the new hub.
“We will continue to collaborate with Melbourne Airport to ensure our users have clear and easy-to-follow directions as these new zones take effect,” she said.
Signs at Melbourne Airport where the pedestrian bridge to the transport hub is being built advertise “a new front door for Melbourne Airport”.
“More room for your hellos and goodbyes,” the signs say. “Coming in 2026.”
There is reduced car parking available across most Melbourne Airport’s car parks while the construction continues.
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