Qantas to open new Melbourne International business class lounge
The ‘dungeon’ will be left behind as Qantas moves into a new upper-level lounge precinct.
By David Flynn, July 24 2026
Hooray! Business class travellers and frequent flyers are set to escape the drab, windowless Qantas Business Lounge in the Level 1 basement of Melbourne Airport’s T2 international terminal.
Qantas has committed to building an all-new business class lounge perched above the terminal, with sweeping views of the airport and beyond.
It’s the announcement so many Melbournians have been waiting for.
But plenty of patience will be needed, with the airline saying “works on the new lounge and fit out are expected to be completed by 2029.”
Qantas' International Business Lounge at Melbourne T2.
The new Qantas Melbourne International Business Lounge, as it’s officially known, will take pride of place in a redeveloped upstairs lounge precinct, and be one-third larger than the current space “to meet growing demand from premium travellers and frequent flyers.”
Travellers can also expect a fresh dining proposition along the same lines as Qantas’ new Sydney International Business Lounge, with an open kitchen and plates of the day, plus a riot of AC and USB power outlets to keep all their travel tech topped up before the flight.
“The new Qantas International Business Lounge will deliver significant improvements for their premium customers and will boast one of the best views at the airport,” says Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus.
Qantas has yet to release any concept images for its new Melbourne International Business Lounge, but we expect the lounge will share roughly similar design DNA with its Sydney sibling, shown below.
A concept image of the new Qantas Sydney International Business Lounge.
There’s no word as yet on if the Melbourne lounge will have an outdoor deck, which is a drawcard of the new Sydney lounge.
A concept image of the new Qantas Sydney International Business Lounge.
Qantas international business lounges are the go-to for the airline’s business class passengers, Qantas Gold-grade frequent flyers, Qantas Club members and holders of lounge passes.
They also host business class passengers and mid-tier frequent flyers on partner airlines from the Oneworld family, which in Melbourne includes Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways.
Finnair will be added to this list in October 2026, when the airline launches Melbourne-Helsinki flights, while British Airways will follow with Melbourne-London flights in January 2027.
Other Level 1 lounges are set to escape the dungeon.
Executive Traveller understands that Melbourne Airport plans to eventually relocate other basement lounges such as Air New Zealand, American Express and Plaza Premium from Level 1 to Level 3, and repurpose the current lounge precinct for Australian Border Force immigration and quarantine facilities.
Singapore Airlines is the first to escape the dungeon, with new SilverKris First and Business lounges opening towards the end of this year in a space previously used by Etihad Airways, and more recently, independent operator Aspire.
Read more: Here is Singapore Airlines’ all-new Melbourne lounge
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1282
I wonder if QF will also relocate the First Lounge at the same time as they build a new Int'l J Lounge. There would be considerable savings to be had by locating the 2 lounges next to one another such as common reception and kitchen areas as well as common staff for functions such as cleaning etc.
Of course, there is always the argument that the First Lounge is a bit redundant with QF seemingly giving up on any First Class services from MEL but the lounge could be renamed as the PLatinum Lounge instead.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 164
SQ 2025: We're building a new lounge in MEL.
SQ a few months later 2026: It will be finished early, later this year.
QF years ago: One day we'll build a lounge, we want to.
QF in 2026: we're definitely really are going to do it, soon, come back in 2029
QF in 2028: ..... ** (come back later to learn the changed plans) **
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 Oct 2016
Total posts 196
Let me think, ,this is the lounge that was due to OPEN in 2020, isn't it...
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