Australia's Best Airport Announced Amid Major Changes To Qantas Terminal

Melbourne Airport has been named the best in Australia and the Pacific for the second consecutive year.

The bustling airport received this prestigious title at the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards, held overnight in Frankfurt, Germany.

Globally, Melbourne Airport was ranked 19th on the list of the world’s top 100 airports.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Lorie Argus credited her team’s “focus on human interaction” and the new amenities, dining, and shopping options introduced over the past 12 months.

“Whether you work as the CEO or a cleaner, in customer service or in construction, everyone at Melbourne Airport is committed to enhancing our travellers’ journeys,” she said.

“Our ‘Stepping Forward’ program empowers all airport staff to assist passengers wherever they can, and we believe that focus on human interaction is what sets us apart.”

Ms. Argus noted that significant improvements are on the horizon, including a new runway, new roads, and other terminal enhancements.

“We know there is still much work to do, particularly in our international arrivals area. That’s why we are working with our airline partners on future infrastructure plans, including an expanded international terminal and our third runway,” she said.

“There will be disruptions while we complete these works, but they are essential projects that will ensure we continue to grow in line with our city and remain Australia’s favourite airport destination.”

One of these projects, which will change how Qantas domestic passengers use the airport, began this week (more on that below).

Melbourne Airport previously won the title in 2020, 2021, and 2023.

At the 2024 ceremony overnight, Adelaide Airport received the award for ‘Best Regional Airport’ in Australia and the Pacific, and Perth Airport was recognized for ‘Best Airport Staff Service’ in the same region.

Brisbane was ranked 32nd, Perth 52nd, Sydney 55th, Adelaide 65th, and Gold Coast 68th on the world list.

Doha’s Hamad International Airport was ranked the best in the world, displacing Singapore Changi Airport, which had previously held the top spot 12 times.

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport was ranked third, followed by Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport, both located in Tokyo, Japan.

Haneda Airport was also awarded the World’s Cleanest Airport title, while Narita Airport was recognized for having the World’s Best Staff.

The Skytrax World Airport Awards have been held since 1999 and are determined by passengers through an annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. The survey assesses customer service and facilities across more than 570 airports.

More than 100 nationalities completed the questionnaires from August 2023 to March 2024.

The Skytrax World Airline Awards, dubbed “the Oscars of the aviation industry,” are announced mid-year and delivered disappointing news for Australia last year.

Qantas, considered the fifth-best airline in the world in 2022, plummeted 12 spots to 17th in 2023.

Australia’s largest carrier also lost the title of ‘Best Airline in Australia / Pacific’ to Fiji Airways.

Changes at Qantas’ Domestic Terminal at Melbourne Airport

This year’s win for Melbourne Airport coincides with the commencement of a major upgrade to the security screening technology at Qantas’ domestic terminal.

The screening point is being rebuilt with new baggage screening and body scanning technology to align it with the standards of Melbourne Airport’s other domestic terminals.

Construction of a new temporary screening point at the eastern end of the Qantas domestic terminal started this week and is set to open in August. This upgrade means passengers will no longer need to remove laptops, tablets, or aerosols from their carry-on luggage.

Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos requested patience from passengers as they work to transform the terminal “into one of the best domestic facilities in the world.”

“We have also invested tens of millions of dollars upgrading passenger amenities to increase capacity and improve accessibility, including the installation of adult change facilities, all-gender bathrooms, and assistance animal relief areas,” he said, adding that the latest works were the “next piece of the puzzle.”

Mr. Parashos cautioned: “Installing this new security equipment while keeping the terminal operational is a significant logistics challenge, and we thank passengers for their patience and understanding while we undertake this work.”

The project is expected to be completed by December 2025.