Melbourne Airport has unveiled plans to redevelop the International Terminal 2 (T2) to include luxury shopping, a gourmet hospitality precinct, and a laneway style retail offering.
The proposed redevelopment is aimed at delivering a customer-centric experience to better cater for the expected 13 million people that will travel through the Airport by 2024, according to Andrew Gardiner, chief of retail at Melbourne Airport.
“The transformation of T2 is an important step in Melbourne Airport’s vision to create an airport that Melburnians can be proud of, and will offer travellers a shopping and dining experience on par with leading airports around the world,” he said.
“Airports are either the first or last touch point of a traveller’s journey through our great city, so we are striving to deliver an experience that strengthens our customers’ connection to Melbourne and leaves a lasting impression.”
The redevelopment includes the next generation duty free store at Melbourne Airport, with the retail space expanding by 30 per cent. The new duty free retail space is expected to be completed in Q1 2017.
The development of the luxury precinct will see a dedicated space house luxury brands.
According to the Airport, extensive customer research conducted by Think Global and Urbis highlighted the quality of brands that customers desire when travelling, including authentic luxury goods with strong brand recognition. The brands housed in the new luxury precinct have been purpose chosen to meet the evolving demands of the Airport’s customers as a result.
An upgrade to the hospitality precinct will provide ‘quick eats’, restaurants and bars that reflect the city’s affinity with food, including an expanded selection of dining options. It will also see the Airport’s continued relationship with some of the city’s most celebrated chefs, including Shannon Bennett, Frank Camorra and the Angele brothers.
“It’s an exciting time for travellers and retailers alike, with Melbourne Airport’s passenger growth significantly outpacing other Australian airports over the last five years. Melbourne is known for its energy, innovation and sophistication, and we look forward to creating an airport retail experience that matches this,” Gardiner added.
Construction of the T2 transformation project is now under way with a staged opening from early 2017. The precinct is expected to be complete in early 2018, with Lend Lease appointed to manage construction and the design concept created by Melbourne based architecture firm, NH Architecture.
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