The international arrivals hall at Australia’s Melbourne Airport will undergo renovation to accommodate the airport’s increasing international passenger numbers.

Upgrade plans include the expansion of the area, with a larger link to connect Terminals 2 and 3.

Additional escalators and seating, as well as an enhanced taxi pickup zone, will also be provided.

Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Andrew Gardiner said: “Melbourne Airport’s passenger numbers are growing rapidly, especially in the international traveller market, leading us to the international arrivals hall expansion, which will future-proof the airport for continued growth.

“On an average day, almost 16,000 people pass through the arrivals hall, making it an extremely busy space, and numbers are only going to rise.

“The refurbishment is going to create a more spacious and inviting environment for our travellers while providing better connectivity to the rest of our terminal building.”

The expansion is expected to begin this week and be finalised by the end of next year.

During the work, the hall’s main entry will be closed and passengers will be able to reach the hall through Terminals 1 and 3. Passengers will be able to access the airport’s long term car park shuttle bus and SkyBus from the Terminal 1 entrance.

In June, Melbourne Airport commenced construction on a new taxiway to improve flight movements and expand services.

In March, Melbourne Airport became the first Australian airport to launch a fully integrated smart-security screening point to reduce long queues.