Melbourne Airport has soared to new heights, recording its busiest month in history this January with a staggering 3,393,977 passengers passing through its terminals. This milestone surpasses the previous record of 3,322,940 set in December 2019, cementing Melbourne’s status as a global travel hub.
The airport also set a new international travel record, with 1,238,829 passengers passing through the international terminal, including a record 671,135 arrivals.
The surge follows a previous high set just a month earlier in December 2024, as international seat capacity reached an all-time peak. Compared to January last year, international travel saw a 14% increase, while domestic traffic rose by 5%.
January also marked the busiest single day in more than five years, with 122,751 travelers recorded on Friday the 24th, just before the Australia Day long weekend and Australian Open final.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus attributed the growth to strategic partnerships with airlines and the Victorian government.
“Since the Australian border reopened in 2021, we’ve been working closely with the Victorian government to rebuild international airline capacity into Melbourne, and we’re now seeing the benefits,” she said.
In the past 12 months, airlines including Turkish Airlines, Vietjet, Cebu Pacific, China Southern and China Airlines have added extra capacity into Melbourne, with US giant Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia due to launch flights to Los Angeles and Doha respectively in December.
To accommodate this ongoing growth, the airport is investing in major infrastructure projects, including a new runway, baggage system, and expanded terminals.
