Terminal 1 (T1) was initially constructed in 1970 as part of Melbourne Airport, serving Trans Australia Airlines. After the purchase of Trans Australia Airlines in 1992, Qantas was to take ownership and manage T1.
A major renovation was undertaken between 1997 and 1999, costing approximately AUD 50 million. The upgrades in the terminal had a second pier, nine more aircraft stands, an expanded access roadway, and improvements to the terminal building.
Layout & Levels:
There are three levels in T1:
Ground (Arrivals): Access to taxi rank, disabled pickup (15 min limit), and Skybus. Here are baggage claim services and allied services.
First (Departures): That which houses two standard check-in areas and a third one known as the Qantas Premium and Jetstar operations. It is also accessible in terms of drop-off area, 5-minute parking, a bus zone, and a walkway to T2.
Mezzanine (Concourses): The concourses have gates in Qantas (1-12) and Jetstar (21-30), as well as service desks, shops, and lounges such as the Qantas Club.
Security to the furthest gates takes 2-6 minutes; T1-T2-T3 transfers are easily accessible on foot (5 min). It will take approximately 15 minutes to reach T4.
Services & Facilities:
Lounges
The Qantas Club, the Domestic Business lounge, and the Chairman lounge are all situated on the departures/mezzanine level and are open from the first departure to the last. These amenities have been termed as premium food, snacks, Wi-Fi, showers, flight monitors, children’s areas, printers, TVs, newspapers, and magazines.
Medical & Essentials
- Level 1 has a medical centre (Melbourne Airport Health and Medical Centre), which is open Mon-Thu 8 am-4 pm and Fri 9:30 am-5 pm
- There are also pharmacies and ATMs spread throughout T1.
- Charging of your mobile devices is possible: You can buy chargers at JB Hi-Fi within T1.
- More conveniences such as lost property services, the information desks, baby care rooms, wheelchair rentals, toilets, internet kiosks, and business support facilities are also provided.
Connectivity
Although free Wi-Fi is provided in Terminals 2, 3, and 4, it is unavailable in T1 since T1 is operated by Qantas.
Dining & Retail
- Following security, there is the existence of a food court and bar facility at T1, where choices include Hudson’s Coffee, Oporto, and The Coffee Emporium (which sells gourmet coffee and light meals)
- There are a few more restricted snack and beverage stores in place before going through security. Click the button below to check out the facilities.
Recent Upgrades & Recognition:
It has been engaged in a massive retail and facility modernization in general:
- Stage 1 was completed in December 2023, with new escalators, renewed concourses, and improved food and beverage options.
- The active current stage 2 (construction on the walkway into Gates 112) has been under construction since 2007.
- On a larger airport scale, the Melbourne Airport was declared the Best Airport in Australia and the Pacific (2024) at the Skytrax World Airport Awards and ranked 19th in the world. All the awards were connected with the improvements in customer touchpoints, services, and food.
- There is new security screening equipment that is being put in place in the Qantas home terminal that would incorporate the advanced tech in baggage and body scanning, which would require the removal of laptops and aerosols from carry-ons. It will be completed by December 2025.
Public Sentiment:
As modernizations take place, the attitude of passengers about the T1 is not one-dimensional.
- I visited it on Christmas Eve 2021… Just a single food spot opened up, with no place to sit down at people had to sit on the floor.”
- It has not held up well to comparison with such contemporary gateways as Changi in Singapore.
- Nevertheless, by saying that, Melbourne still seems to be old and ineffective.
Recognition & Ongoing Improvements:
Melbourne Airport was ranked for the second time in a row as the best airport in Australia and the Pacific, i.e., 19th worldwide, as part of the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards.
Human-focused service enhancement and an increase in amenities were cited in the award as a source of success.
A single infrastructure project currently awaiting completion of security screening has improved at the Qantas (domestic) terminal. In August 2025, a temporary screening point opened with advanced scanners that enabled laptops and aerosols to be left in bags. Mainly to be completed in December 2025.
Passenger Experience: Perceptions & Criticisms:
There are divided opinions among frequent travelers. Several Redditors report long lines, confusion with signs, and an old-fashioned design:
- Qantas at Melbourne T1 overall was a rather dull experience… slow baggage belts… least staff… lounge too small.
Other people are complaining about the customs kiosk systems:
- I also have never experienced in my life a long wait at customs as long as that nearly two hours in the kiosk-gate system…no no signage or manpower…”
Wider criticisms include old-fashioned design and first impressions:
- Orange yellow dimly lit tunnels… gloomy… like the bunker of the 80s.
- Melbourne remains old fashioned and non-efficient. Click the button below to check out the facilities.
Summary Table
Purpose National/Short haul (Qantas & Jetstar)
Floors based originally on ground arrivals, First (check-in/departures), Mezzanine (gates /lounges)
Services Lounge, medical centre, pharmacy, ATM, business, baby care, charging
Connectivity Wi‑Fi unavailable
Food pre-security only a few restaurants; mid-security: food court
Modernization Refurbished concourse, new facilities and continued security modernization
Passenger Review Split opinion–Frustration about lack of services on some, on others possible improvements
Thoughts:
Terminal 1 of the Melbourne Airport is a representation of a mix between what has been synonymous and some growing potential that is continually experienced in daily modernization efforts. With the modernization of lounges and screened technology to the enrichment of the food and provision services, T1 is making an attempt to improve the passenger experience, although it is also under fire from some critics because it is seen as lagging in the design of more modern airports.