Melbourne Airports And Their Respective Codes: A Guide

Melbourne, the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, has several airports serving the city. The main international airport is Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, which has the IATA code MEL and the ICAO code YMML. The airport, which is located 18 kilometres (11 miles) northwest of the city centre, offers domestic flights within Australia and international flights to Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America and South America. In addition to Melbourne Airport, there are several other airports in the Melbourne area, including Moorabbin Airport, Avalon Airport, Essendon Airport, Coldstream Airport, Lilydale Airport, and RAAF Point Cook. These airports offer a range of services, from passenger flights to pilot training and aerial firefighting.

Tullamarine Airport

The airport opened in 1970, replacing Essendon Airport, and has undergone several expansions and renovations since then. The most recent expansion, completed in 1999, included the addition of a second pier, stands for nine additional aircraft, an extended access roadway, and terminal improvements.

Moorabbin Airport

The airport has five intersecting runways, the longest being Runway 17L/35R, with a length of 1,335 metres (4,380 ft). Usually, two parallel runways are used at the same time. Moorabbin Airport is also home to regular passenger transport operator, King Island Airlines, which links King Island to the mainland with daily flights.

Avalon Airport

The airport was opened in 1953 to cater to the production of military aircraft. The Commonwealth Government bought the land in 1952, as it was deemed to be of poor quality for farming due to the abundance of volcanic rock. The airport was originally established to provide a longer runway for jet aircraft, which could not be accommodated at the Government Aircraft Factories at Fishermans Bend, Melbourne.

In 1997, the federal Government of Australia granted Linfox a 50-year lease of the airport, with an additional 49-year option. Linfox developed proposals to develop the land, which formed the basis of the Avalon Airport Master Plan, drafted in 2013. The airport has since expanded, with Jetstar commencing commercial flights in 2004, and AirAsia X moving its Melbourne operations to Avalon in 2018.

Essendon Airport

Melbourne is served by several airports, including Moorabbin Airport, Coldstream Airport, Lilydale Airport, RAAF Point Cook, Avalon Airport, and Essendon Airport. Essendon Airport, also known as Essendon Fields Airport, is located in the north-western suburb of Essendon Fields, approximately 11km (6.8 miles) from Melbourne's city centre. The airport's IATA code is MEB and its ICAO code is YMEN.

Today, Essendon Airport primarily serves scheduled commercial, corporate jet, charter, and general aviation flights. It is the closest airport to Melbourne's city centre and is a base for corporate jets, emergency air services, and regional travel. The airport has undergone upgrades to meet International Civil Aviation Organization standards, including improvements to signage and lighting systems. Additionally, Essendon Fields has a thriving business district and is known as Australia's centre of excellence for business jet maintenance and operations.

The area surrounding Essendon Airport, originally known as St Johns, played a significant role in the history of Australian aviation. The airport was proclaimed as Essendon Aerodrome by the Commonwealth Government in 1921, but it had already been in use by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Aero Club (later renamed the Royal Victorian Aero Club). Essendon Aerodrome witnessed significant events, such as the arrival of aviation pioneer Alan Cobham in 1926 and the first parachute jump by a woman in Australia in 1937.

Terminals and gates

Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, is located in the suburb of Tullamarine, 18 kilometres (11 miles) northwest of the city centre. It is the main international airport serving Melbourne, the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. The airport has four terminals: one international terminal, two domestic terminals, and one budget domestic terminal.

Terminal 1, previously known as Qantas Domestic, hosts domestic and regional services for Qantas Group airlines, Qantas and QantasLink. It features check-in, security, a food court, and the entrance to the Qantas Lounge Precinct on the first floor, while baggage claim is located on the ground floor. Terminal 1 has 16 parking bays served by aerobridges, with 12 single aerobridges and four double aerobridges. There are also five non-aerobridge gates used by QantasLink.

Terminal 2, which opened in 1970, handles all international and limited domestic flights. It features 20 gates with aerobridges and houses airline lounges for Cathay Pacific, Qantas (including a First Lounge and a Business Lounge/Qantas Club), Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, and Emirates. Terminal 3, formerly known as Ansett Australia, is connected to Terminal 2 by an above-ground corridor. It features three double-decker aerobridges, each accommodating an A380 or two smaller aircraft, and one single aerobridge. Departures take place on the lower deck, while arrivals are streamed to the first floor.

The airport also has a satellite terminal with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the North-South runway. This terminal includes three double-decker aerobridges and one single aerobridge. Melbourne Airport's terminals collectively have 68 gates: 53 domestic and 15 international.

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