Runway 16/34 Maintenance Project
Melbourne Airport is continuing to undertake regular maintenance works that will see runways being alternately closed between July and October. The routine maintenance work includes removing rubber, re-painting line markings, replacing lights and servicing equipment. Details of runway closures include:
- The north/south runway, Runway 16/34, being closed on Mondays between July and October, 2am and 5:30am. Aircraft will use the east/west runway during these times.
- The east/west runway, Runway 09/27, will be closed on Wednesdays between July and October, 10am and 4pm. Aircraft will use the north/south runway during these times.
Further surface treatment maintenance on the east/west runway, Runway 09/27, is also being planned for early next year. Details will be confirmed in 2025.
This safety-critical maintenance work is required to ensure the runway can support aircraft movements for the next 10-12 years. The work includes replacing over 2,500 metres of runway using more than 38,000 tonnes of asphalt, including 20% recycled material produced on-site from existing asphalt stocks.
Taxiway Zulu works
The Taxiway Zulu project is part of taxiway development works that includes the construction of a new taxiway, realignment of an existing taxiway and extension of a third taxiway. These works began in March 2019 but were suspended in October 2020 due to the impacts of COVID. They are now due to be completed in 2026.
The works are part of the overall future development of the Melbourne Airport terminal precinct and in particular, the expansion of Terminal 2.
The works will require 36 hours of closures to Runway 09/27 and associated taxiways. Closures will occur:
- From 6pm on Saturday 12 October 2024 to 6am on Monday 14 October 2024
- From 6pm on Saturday 26 October 2024 to 6am Monday 28 October 2024
- From 6pm on Saturday 9 November 2024 to 6am Monday 11 November 2024
- From 6pm on Saturday 23 November 2024 to 6am Monday 25 November 2024
Do you have a question?
For questions about these projects, please email [email protected].
Any noise complaints or feedback can be directed to Airservices’ Noise Complaints and Information Service (NCIS) at 1800 802 584 or online via this link.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will change?
Aircraft landing and taking off during the night maintenance windows will utilise existing flight paths.
At times when the north-south runway is closed, all aircraft will use the east-west runway (Runway 09/27).
There will be no change to the overall number of aircraft using the airport each day. However, between 50 and 70 flights that would normally use the north-south runway at night will instead use the east-west runway.
This will be temporary, and only on the nights of the week when the north-south runway is closed for maintenance works.
We have worked with airlines and other stakeholders to strategically schedule some heavy aircraft types (e.g. A380) earlier or later than the night closures. This will have the added benefit of minimising impact to nearby communities.
There will be no changes to flight paths, except for the short period when the displaced threshold is in place, when some departures to the north will operate from the reduced runway length.
How will aircraft noise change while the maintenance work is underway?
While we have made efforts to minimise impacts to the community, some areas to the east and west of the airport will experience additional flight activity during the night-time closures. This is because the east-west runway must be used while the north-south runway is closed.
Residents in the following communities may experience additional overflight activity during the night-time closures:
- Hoppers Crossing
- Maddingley
- Eastern areas of Melbourne such as Hurstbridge, Bundoora, Greensborough and Doncaster
- Melton South
- Inner north Melbourne areas such as Essendon and Preston
- Mount Macedon
- Eden Park
When will this change occur?
Work will commence on 3 November 2022, and the project is expected to be fully completed by early 2024.
When was this maintenance work last done?
Maintenance work of this scale on the north-south runway was last done in 2011. However, we are always undertaking routine maintenance, including work over the past several months, which has also involved similar night-time closures for 1-3 nights a week.
Will you only undertake works on those five nights a week?
Our maintenance schedule includes closing the north-south runway for 6.5-8 hours five nights each week. Depending on the schedule, we may need to close the runway on additional nights to complete critical works, however this will be kept to a minimum.
There will be no works between Saturday night and Sunday mornings or over the Christmas/New Year break (between 15 December 2023-16 January 2024).
What will change?
Aircraft landing and taking off during the night maintenance windows will utilise existing flight paths.
At times when the north-south runway is closed, all aircraft will use the east-west runway (Runway 09/27).
There will be no change to the overall number of aircraft using the airport each day. However, between 50 and 70 flights that would normally use the north-south runway at night will instead use the east-west runway.
This will be temporary, and only on the nights of the week when the north-south runway is closed for maintenance works.
We have worked with airlines and other stakeholders to strategically schedule some heavy aircraft types (e.g. A380) earlier or later than the night closures. This will have the added benefit of minimising impact to nearby communities.
There will be no changes to flight paths, except for the short period when the displaced threshold is in place, when some departures to the north will operate from the reduced runway length.
How will aircraft noise change while the maintenance work is underway?
While we have made efforts to minimise impacts to the community, some areas to the east and west of the airport will experience additional flight activity during the night-time closures. This is because the east-west runway must be used while the north-south runway is closed.
Residents in the following communities may experience additional overflight activity during the night-time closures:
- Hoppers Crossing
- Maddingley
- Eastern areas of Melbourne such as Hurstbridge, Bundoora, Greensborough and Doncaster
- Melton South
- Inner north Melbourne areas such as Essendon and Preston
- Mount Macedon
- Eden Park
When will this change occur?
Work will commence on 3 November 2022, and the project is expected to be fully completed by early 2024.
When was this maintenance work last done?
Maintenance work of this scale on the north-south runway was last done in 2011. However, we are always undertaking routine maintenance, including work over the past several months, which has also involved similar night-time closures for 1-3 nights a week.
Will you only undertake works on those five nights a week?
Our maintenance schedule includes closing the north-south runway for 6.5-8 hours five nights each week. Depending on the schedule, we may need to close the runway on additional nights to complete critical works, however this will be kept to a minimum.
There will be no works between Saturday night and Sunday mornings or over the Christmas/New Year break (between 15 December 2023-16 January 2024).