Former Toll Holdings managing director Paul Little has spent the past five years and almost $100 million developing the VIP terminal, dubbed Melbourne Jet Base.
Little gave the Australian Financial Review an exclusive first look inside the Cox architecture designed terminal, which sits on a 19.5 hectare site leased from the federal government for the next 35 years. He explained that Tullamarine airport is a more seductive offering than those in other Australian capital cities as it does not have a curfew.
He also said the opening is timed to capture the fast growing market of private jet owners from China, commenting:
“They want to get to places that are exciting, they want to get there efficiently and quickly and they don't care too much about the cost.”
Melbourne Jet Base has the capacity to accommodate 200 jet arrivals and departures per month. Among these flights will be RAAF VIP aircraft carrying officials such as the Australian Prime Minister, as well as members of the country’s business elite. Increased VIP activity at Tullamarine airport may lead to extra demand for business card printing services.
The terminal has already hosted a few special flights before it was formally opened on Thursday September 20.