Melbourne Airport to start building third runway in 2016

Australia's Melbourne Tullamarine Airport plans to commence construction of an AUD500 million (USD519.2 million) third runway to be complete by 2018-2022. The 3000m, east-west oriented runway is expected to be complete in two to four years after construction commences and is designed to provide capacity to meet predicted passenger traffic of 40 million p/a by 2020 and 60 million p/a by 2033. Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said, "A new east-west runway will enable Melbourne Airport to handle more aircraft movements, more efficiently. Passengers will spend less time on the ground taxiing to and from terminals, and aircraft will burn less fuel on more direct flight paths and shorter trips from the gate to the runway." Australian Airports Association (AAA) welcomed the third runway plan. Melbourne Airport plans to submit a draft Master Plan, including the third runway project, for public comment in early 2013. [more - original PR - Melbourne Airport] [more - original PR - AAA]