Melbourne Airport has two runways; the main runway, Runway 16/34 (3.7 km long) is orientated north-south and the smaller cross runway, Runway 09/27 (2.3km) is orientated east-west.

The main runway is known as Runway 34 when used in a northerly direction and Runway 16 when used in a southerly direction. Runway numbering reflects the runways’ orientation and correlates with degrees on a compass. Runway 34 is 340 degrees.

The following video explains how runways are named and used.

An Instrument Landing System operates for aircraft landing on Runways 16 and 27, and non-precision approaches are available to all runways.

Runway selection and seasonal winds

Runway selection is based on wind direction, weather conditions, traffic volume and other factors. Aircraft primarily take-off and land into the wind for safety and performance reasons. Therefore, as the wind direction changes the runway in operation may also change depending on the strength of the wind.

This means that Melbourne’s seasonal wind patterns affect usage of the different runway directions. Specifically, Runway 16 tends to be used more frequently in the warmer months due to southerly winds whereas Runway 34 tends to be used more frequently in the cooler months when the predominant wind direction tends to be northerly. The pattern of use of Runway 27 tends to be less clear-cut as it can generally be used with either a northerly or southerly wind, provided the crosswind does not exceed the maximum allowed speed of 20 knots, including gusts.

Runways may be used in combination. For example, Runway 27 may be used for departures while Runways 27 and 34 are being used in combination for arrivals.

Noise abatement procedures

Noise abatement procedures are designed to help reduce the impact of aircraft noise on communities. While they are applied whenever it is possible to do so, their use is not mandatory and is subject to weather conditions and traffic requirements.

The Melbourne Noise Abatement Procedures outline that between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm, when there is not heavy traffic, Runways 16 and 27 are equally preferred for landing. Runway 27 used in combination with Runway 34, and Runway 27 used alone, are equally preferred for departures.

During busy periods between 6.00 am and 11.00 pm, Runways 27 and 34 used in combination and Runways 34 and 09 used in combination are equally preferred.

At night, between 11.00 pm and 6.00 am, the preferred runway for arrivals is Runway 16 and for departures is Runway 27.

Melbourne Airport third runway

Melbourne Airport is seeking approval for a plan to construct a third runway (16R/34L) to run parallel to the existing north-south runway.

Melbourne Airport released its proposal to the public in February 2022, giving the community an opportunity to provide feedback and utilise an interactive noise tool to explore future aircraft tracks. The proposal included detailed planning documents and considered the project’s impact on the community.

The third runway is the subject of Melbourne Airport’s Major Development Plan (MDP) which has been submitted to the Commonwealth government for approval. This MDP will take into account comments and feedback from the public exhibition period (Feb-May 2022).

The new runway will increase the capacity of the airport and allows for simultaneous arrivals and departures. To facilitate new parallel runway operations, changes to airspace architecture including new flight paths and runway operating modes are required. New flight paths for approaches and departures on the new runway, and changes to existing flight paths, will be required.

We expect that the operation of the third runway will result in aircraft noise decreasing in some areas and increasing in others. Should the project be approved, further community engagement will be undertaken by both Airservices Australia and Melbourne Airport throughout the flight path design process. Further information, including an interactive noise tool, can also be found at Melbourne Airport – Melbourne Airport News | Melbourne Airport.

Melbourne Airport has a number of flight paths from its runways.

To learn more about the runways at Melbourne Airport, take a look at our Melbourne Airport Runway page.

The illustration below shows how jet and non-jet (turbo-prop) aircraft typically operate at Melbourne Airport on the published instrument arrival and departure flight paths.

The animation is indicative only and provided for information purposes, on occasion flights may leave these general areas.

Flight paths in Melbourne are designed to accommodate, and keep segregated, aircraft arriving from and departing to ports in different directions. While there are some different flight paths for jets and non-jets there are other flight paths that are used by both types of aircraft. The vast majority of aircraft at Melbourne Airport are medium to large jets.

Arrivals

Jet arrivals into Melbourne are generally aligned with the runway at least ten kilometres from the airport. From this point they will fly towards the runway in a straight line. This means that suburbs in line with the runways are overflown by arriving jets. Other suburbs may be overflown by aircraft proceeding towards the point at which they join the final approach and align with the runway.

Runways 16 and 27 have Instrument Landing Systems. This type of approach requires aircraft to be aligned with the runway at a distance of around twenty kilometres and height above the elevation of the runway of around 3000 feet when they begin their approach. Aircraft will descend steadily to the runway using the horizontal and vertical guidance provided by the system. A similar instrument approach known as Honeywell SmartPath is available on all runways.

There is no minimum altitude for aircraft in the process of landing. Aircraft will generally descend on a glide slope of three degrees.

Departures

Departure flight paths allow aircraft to maintain the runway heading for a short time until they are stabilised in flight, and then to turn towards the route that will take them to their destination.

The altitude of aircraft after departure will depend on factors such as the type of aircraft and its weight, how heavily laden it is with fuel and passengers, and the atmospheric conditions at the time. All these factors affect an aircraft’s climb rate. There is no regulated minimum altitude for an aircraft in the process of taking off.

Smart Tracking

A growing number of modern aircraft are now fitted with navigation systems that use satellite-assisted guidance which allow aircraft to fly with a higher degree of accuracy and more closely follow the same route as other aircraft. Airservices refers to these routes as ‘Smart Tracking’. Smart Tracking technology makes air travel safer, cleaner and more dependable. It also has the potential to improve noise outcomes for communities living close to airports.

While there are standard flight paths, aircraft may be directed off these at times for reasons including the need to avoid bad weather or for traffic management, that is, to ensure safe separation between aircraft. See WebTrak for further information about where aircraft fly.