Melbourne Airport has reported a 1.9 per cent increase in total passengers for 2018/19, led by strong growth in a number of international markets.
The airport said it handled 37.3 million passengers in the 12 months to June 30 2019, up from 36.7 million in the prior corresponding period.
The number of international travellers rose 5.3 per cent to 11.4 million, while the number of domestic passengers inched 0.4 per cent higher to 26 million.
Melbourne Airport chief executive Lyell Strambi said 2018/19 was the busiest in the airport’s 49-year history.
“The growth in the international market is phenomenal, rising by more than five per cent on the 2017/18 financial year, which clearly demonstrates the popularity in overseas travel and strength in Melbourne as a tourism destination,” Strambi said in a statement on Monday.
During 2018/19, Tullamarine welcomed a new nonstop flight to Manila from Cebu Pacific Air in August 2018, as well as the start of Qantas flights to San Francisco.
Then in June 2019 Air Vanuatu began nonstop flights to Port Vila and Sichuan Airlines started a Chengdu–Guiyang-Melbourne once weekly service.
https://www.facebook.com/MelbourneInternationalAirport/videos/vb.213235072036795/1779229545557050/
VIDEO: Highlights from Air Vanuatu’s inaugural flight from Melbourne to Port Vila from the Melbourne Airport Facebook page.
Strambi noted the airport ended 2018/19 with 36 international airlines serving 45 international destinations nonstop.
“It has been a great year and I am very proud of the contribution the airport community has made to facilitating tourism, freight and trade through Melbourne Airport,” Strambi said.
“We are also seeing growth diversify into markets such as India, Canada and the Philippines, which is really exciting for our operation.”
Melbourne Airport recently announced it was reviewing the planned development of its new runway, potentially ditching the existing plan for a parallel east-west runway in favour of a north-south orientation.
The airport has also signed a partnership extension with aviation technology provider SITA to roll out next generation checkin and baggage drop facilities throughout all its terminals.
Melbourne Airport passenger numbers for 2018/19
| Passengers | Financial Year 2018/19 | Percentage change from prior year |
| International | 11.44 million | +5.3 per cent |
| Domestic | 25.95 million | +0.4 per cent |
| Total | 37.40 million | +1.9 per cent |
Source: Melbourne Airport
