‘Indian market important for us at Melbourne Airport’

Established in July 1970, Melbourne Airport ascended as Australia’s second busiest aviation hub after the closure of Essendon Airport. Originally christened Tullamarine Airport, it was designed to cater to the era’s largest aircraft, including the Boeing 747, solidifying its status as a pivotal gateway in the region. 

Beyond its aviation prowess, Melbourne Airport caters to business travellers with an array of amenities. These include onsite banking services, conveniently located conference facilities at the Hilton Hotel on Arrivals Drive, and a selection of meeting rooms and lounges. For those seeking relaxation amidst their travels, adjacent to the north / south runway lies the Melbourne Airport Golf Club. This exclusive retreat boasts an 18-hole course, complete with a putting green and professional shop, offering a tranquil escape for executives and travellers alike.

In an exclusive interview with BW Hotelier, Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus shares the strategies Melbourne Airport is implementing to foster stronger ties with Indian businesses and investors, how Melbourne Airport is preparing to meet the demands and expectations of Indian travellers and more…

As the CEO of Melbourne Airport, how do you perceive the current landscape for business growth and collaboration between Melbourne and India?
India is one of only seven countries that Australia enjoys an open skies agreement with and this is a key reason behind the markets success over the last few years. Open skies agreements provide airlines the certainty they need to expand operations or look at starting out, and we are seeing that play out with the Indian market.  

Melbourne has one of the largest Indian diasporas of anywhere in the world. Since the pandemic, direct services to India have grown by more than 330 per cent out of Melbourne Airport, this coupled with strong two-way trade and tourism lays the foundation for a prosperous future.  

What strategies is Melbourne Airport implementing to foster stronger ties with Indian businesses and investors?
We are always looking to cater to our key markets and that includes ensuring we have the right mix of food, beverage and retail offerings in place at the airport. We’ve also recently opened a Novotel and Ibis style hotel here at the airport with a core focus on providing for our international and domestic business travellers with a large business centre and commercial gym.

Melbourne Airport is also the freight capital of the nation with more than 40 per cent of the nation’s exports coming out of the airport. More than 85 per cent of these exports are transported in the belly of passenger planes, so the growth of markets such as India are vital for a thriving two-way trade economy.

How does Melbourne Airport plan to enhance connectivity and accessibility for Indian travellers, considering the growing importance of Melbourne as a destination for both business and leisure?
Melbourne Airport recognises the profound importance of ensuring that all individuals have equal, and dignified access to our airport. We are committed to promoting a more inclusive and accessible environment for passengers, guests and visitors. In pursuit of this, over the last year we have embarked on the most significant Accessibility programme review the airport has undertaken. Over the next six months, travellers, guests and visitors will experience a whole new level of support as we look to implement the findings of the review.

For air capacity, our team continues to build air access to the Indian market focussing on the nonstop flights to India. In addition, the team is also working with key airline partners such as Srilankan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways to improve connections for Australian travellers through to India.

In what ways do you see the Indian market evolving in terms of air travel and tourism, and how is Melbourne Airport preparing to meet the demands and expectations of Indian travellers?
Melbourne Airport is expecting to double our passenger numbers over the next 20 years, and to support this growth, we are investing billions of dollars across the airport to make sure our infrastructure grows in tandem. We are building new roads, baggage systems and most importantly a new runway that will support the more than 76 million people we expect through our doors by 2042. We are in constant talks with our airline partners to look for new routes and opportunities to improve the choice we can offer our travellers.  

In the market, Melbourne Airport is partnering with Visit Victoria and Tourism Australia to nurture demand for Indian visitors.  The work includes product updates in Victoria and holiday product development to cater for various market segments.

Are there any specific initiatives or partnerships Melbourne Airport is undertaking to attract more Indian airlines to operate routes to Melbourne, thereby boosting connectivity between the two regions?
The Indian market is so important for us at Melbourne Airport. At the recent CAPA India Aviation Summit, I had the opportunity to chat to a range of airlines and industry leaders to discuss how we can continue to grow connectivity between Melbourne and India. There were many conversations that I had whilst at CAPA that I think will lead to some great opportunities, but none I can mention here just yet.

With the rise of sustainable travel practices globally, what sustainability initiatives is Melbourne Airport implementing to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a eco-friendlier aviation industry, especially concerning flights between Melbourne and India?
Melbourne Airport was the first capital city airport in Australia to become Green Power accredited. We are also the only airport in the country to have an on-site solar farm and an ambitious net zero scope one and two emissions goal of 2025. Recently in our terminals, we have launched a programme that turns waste from our food and beverage outlets into fertiliser with the use of black soldier fly larvae. We understand the impact aviation has on the environment and we are constantly looking for ways to innovate to reduce that footprint.  

Finally, as Melbourne continues to strengthen its ties with India across various sectors, what role do you envision Melbourne Airport playing in facilitating and furthering this partnership in the years to come?
Melbourne is now Australia’s largest city and I look forward to continuing to drive connections between India and Melbourne. We will continue to work with our local tourism agencies to promote India as a destination of choice for Victorians at the same time as working with our airline partners to deliver new routes and capacity.