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Melbourne Airport
Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne Airport
Australia's second-busiest airport, gateway to Victoria.
- ›Melbourne Airport opened in 1970, replacing Essendon Airport as Melbourne's primary airport.
- ›It is Australia's second-busiest airport by passenger traffic.
- ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 434 feet (132 metres) above sea level.
- ›A direct rail link to the CBD has been proposed and debated for decades and remains under planning as of the mid-2020s.
- ›The airport covers an area of approximately 2,832 hectares and operates two parallel runways.
Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, is Australia's second-busiest international gateway, located approximately 23 kilometres northwest of the Melbourne CBD. Opened in 1970, it replaced Essendon Airport as the city's primary aviation hub and has since grown into a major transpacific and regional transit point. The airport serves as a key base for Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia, handling over 35 million passengers annually in pre-pandemic years.
- Terminal 1 (International) — Handles all international arrivals and departures, featuring extensive duty-free retail and immigration facilities.
- Terminal 2 (Qantas Domestic) — Primary domestic terminal for Qantas and QantasLink services, connected directly to the international precinct.
- Terminal 3 (Virgin Australia) — Dedicated terminal for Virgin Australia domestic flights, located adjacent to Terminal 4.
- Terminal 4 (Jetstar & Rex) — Budget and regional carrier terminal serving Jetstar and Regional Express (Rex) domestic routes.
- SkyBus express coach service to Melbourne CBD and Southern Cross Station
- Public bus routes including Route 901 to Broadmeadows and Frankston
- Metered taxis available at designated ranks outside each terminal
- Rideshare services (Uber, DiDi) via designated pickup zones
- Car rental counters for major brands including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Europcar
- Private airport transfer and shuttle services to suburbs and regional areas
- ibis Melbourne Airport
- Mantra Tullamarine Hotel
- Parkroyal Melbourne Airport
- Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport
- Quest Melbourne Airport
Inside the terminals, passengers can choose from a solid mix of Australian café chains, sit-down restaurants, and international fast food outlets spread across all four terminals, with the international terminal offering the widest variety airside. The T1 international departures area features bars and casual dining with a strong focus on Australian produce and wines. For a broader dining experience, the nearby DFO Melbourne (Direct Factory Outlets) shopping complex also hosts several casual eateries just minutes from the terminal precinct.
- SkyBus is the fastest and most reliable option to the CBD, running 24 hours with departures every 10–15 minutes during peak times.
- Allow extra time during peak international arrival periods as immigration queues can be lengthy — SmartGate is available for eligible passport holders.
- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout all terminals, but connection speeds can slow during busy periods so download entertainment before your trip.
- Long-term parking at the airport is significantly cheaper when pre-booked online compared to drive-up rates.
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Route map (55 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
Routes
Stay, Eat & Explore: Melbourne
Australia's culture capital
- •Laneways & Street Art — Hosier Lane's ever-changing spray-can gallery.
- •Queen Victoria Market — 150-year-old sheds of produce and night feasts.
- •Royal Botanic Gardens — 38 hectares curling along the Yarra.
- •Melbourne Cricket Ground — The 100,000-seat cathedral of Aussie sport.
- •St Kilda & Brighton Bathing Boxes — Penguins at the pier and rainbow beach huts.
Getting around: Free City Circle trams loop the CBD — the world's biggest tram network; SkyBus links Tullamarine; Myki cards cover it all.
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Melbourne Airport, colloquially known as Tullamarine Airport, is an international airport serving Melbourne, Victoria, the second largest city in Australia. It is located in the suburb of Melbourne Airport and is approximately 22 kilometres (14 mi) northwest of the Melbourne city centre.
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