Summary
- International passenger traffic is rebounding at Melbourne Airport, with capacity set to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
- The airport is adding more flights, including services from Singapore Airlines, Air India, Aircalin, Vietjet and Batik Air, and launching seasonal services with Asiana Airlines between Melbourne and Seoul.
- The increase in international capacity is not only good news for consumers due to potentially lower prices, but it also has positive economic implications for the state of Victoria, with an average daily international flight worth AU$154 million ($103m) to the economy.
Australia’s post-pandemic recovery is a tale of two halves, with domestic passenger traffic recovering quickly to around 90% of pre-COVID, but for most of this year, international traffic lagged. The last few months have turned that picture on its head as the major airports in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane have been swamped by an influx of international carriers who want a slice of this year’s peak Christmas and summer holiday travel.
More seats flying into Melbourne Airport
The good news is that airlines from all parts of the globe see opportunities in Australia, be they from North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific and not just from the biggest and most lucrative market of all, China. The international recovery has been so strong that Melbourne Airport (MEL) is set to become the first Australian airport to exceed pre-pandemic levels of international capacity, driven by the thousands of seats being added in the coming weeks.
Photo: Airbus
This week, Melbourne Airport will welcome Singapore Airlines’ fifth daily service, a mix of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 and A350 flights, giving the airport the airlines’ highest year-round frequency of any Australian port. Next month will see flights really ramp up with the start of Air India’s direct flights to Mumbai, the return of Aircalin from Noumea, an increase in Vietjet services to Ho Chi Minh City and the launch of Batik Air Airbus A330 flights to Kuala Lumpur.
Photo: Airbus
Adding to the end-of-year rush is the launch of Asiana Airlines seasonal services between Melbourne and Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN), catering to increasing numbers of Australians heading to South Korea and the influx of South Koreans who visit Melbourne for the Australian (Tennis) Open in January.
International carriers, including Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, have been steadily adding capacity in the second half of the year, and that is now showing up in the monthly traffic figures. In October, Melbourne Airport handled 3,015,236 passengers, the first time since January 2020 that it surpassed the 3 million passenger milestone, and 17% higher than in October 2022.
Photo: Steve Worner | Shutterstock.
International travelers accounted for 895,378 and domestic 2,120,199, beating last year by 47% and 8% respectively. Overall, the airport reached 91% of October 2019 levels, with international passengers climbing to 95% of pre-COVID levels and domestic steady at 90%. Last week, Melbourne Airport CEO Lorrie Argus said that the coming month would be significant, adding:
“We are on track to bring international seat numbers back above 2019 levels well ahead of forecast and ahead of other Australian airports. Higher capacity typically means lower prices so this is great news for consumers, and with an average daily international flight worth AU$154 million ($103m) to the Victorian economy it’s also great news for the state.”
Good news for K-Pop fans
Launching Asiana Airlines flights between Seoul and Melbourne will boost those international numbers even faster and give Victorians direct access to one of Asia’s most influential cities – and the home of K-Pop. The airline will operate Airbus A350 flights every Tuesday and Thursday from December 26, departing Melbourne at 22:00 and arriving in Seoul the following morning.
Photo: Wirestock Creators | Shutterstock
With the new nonstop services, Victorian travelers and exporters will avoid the cost and inconvenience of transiting through another city to reach South Korea. Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos expects the seasonal service will prove popular and is hopeful it will pave the way for regular, year-round flights.
In June, the airport announced that Lotte, one of South Korea’s largest companies, had taken over the operation of the airport’s duty-free business. With a population of more than nine million, Seoul is an important business, tourism, and educational market for Melbourne, and this new, nonstop service will only strengthen those important economic and cultural ties.