Owais Crawford
Melbourne Airport, also known as Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and represented by the IATA code MEL, is the main airport serving Melbourne, Australia. It is the second busiest airport in Australia and is located 18-23 km northwest of the city centre. The airport opened in 1970, replacing the city's previous main airport, Essendon Airport, and features four terminals: one international terminal and three domestic terminals. Melbourne Airport is accessible via the Tullamarine Freeway and offers various amenities, including parking, shopping, and dining options. It is known for its efficiency, modern facilities, and commitment to sustainability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Melbourne Airport |
| Airport Code | MEL |
| Location | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Distance from City Centre | 18 km (11 mi) or 23 km (14 mi) |
| Address | Arrival Dr, Melbourne Airport VIC 3045, Australia |
| Number of Terminals | 4 |
| Type of Terminals | 1 international terminal, 2/3 domestic terminals, 1 budget domestic terminal |
| Operating Hours | 24 hours a day |
| On-site Facilities | Parking, shopping, dining, partner lounges, premium lounges |
| Transportation Options | Taxi, bus, rental car, SkyBus |
| Annual Passenger Traffic | ~25 million domestic, ~10 million international (before the pandemic) |
| Annual Aircraft Movements | 239,466 (in 2016-2017) |
| Role | Main international airport serving Melbourne, Victoria's economy, and Australia's transportation hub |
| Year Opened | 1970 |
| Replaced | Essendon Airport |
| Land Area | 2,741 hectares (6,773 acres) |
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What You'll Learn
Melbourne Airport's role in Victoria's economy
Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport (MEL), is a vital transportation hub for the state of Victoria, Australia. With its modern facilities and sustainability initiatives, the airport plays a significant role in facilitating tourism, trade, and business connections for the state.
Located approximately 23 kilometres from Melbourne's central business district, Melbourne Airport is the main international airport serving the state capital of Victoria. It is the second busiest airport in Australia in terms of passenger traffic, handling around 24 million domestic and 11 million international passengers in the fiscal year ending in June 2024. The airport features four terminals, including one international and three domestic terminals, providing direct flights to 33 domestic destinations and numerous international destinations across the globe.
Melbourne Airport serves as a crucial link between Victoria and the world, offering round-the-clock arrival and departure services. Its efficient passenger processing, seamless travel experience, and commitment to sustainability have made it a favoured choice for travellers visiting Melbourne and Victoria. The airport's well-organised layout streamlines check-in, security, and baggage handling processes, enhancing the overall travel experience.
The airport also contributes to Victoria's economy by generating employment opportunities and promoting business activities. It serves as a major hub for airlines such as Qantas and Virgin Australia, and it handles more domestic freight than any other airport in Australia. The presence of premium lounges, shopping, dining, and other amenities further enhances its appeal to travellers and contributes to the economic activity in the region.
Additionally, Melbourne Airport provides easy access to the city of Melbourne and Victoria through various transportation options. The SkyBus offers express bus services from the airport to Southern Cross railway station in the central business district. The airport's proximity to the Tullamarine Freeway and its own dedicated suburb further enhance its accessibility.
Overall, Melbourne Airport's role in Victoria's economy is significant, facilitating travel, trade, and tourism while providing a gateway to the state for visitors from across the globe. Its efficient operations and modern infrastructure contribute to the state's economic growth and development.
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Transport to and from the airport
Melbourne Airport (IATA: MEL, ICAO: YMML), also known as Tullamarine Airport, is located 18 kilometres (11 miles) northwest of Melbourne's city centre. The airport is accessible via the Tullamarine Freeway, which has an off-ramp that leads directly into the airport grounds.
There are various transport options for getting to and from Melbourne Airport:
Car
Melbourne Airport has five car parks, all of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The short-term, multi-level long-term, business and express carparks are covered, while the long-term parking is not. Motorcycle parking is also available in all car parks, with designated areas in the Terminal Car Park at Terminals 1, 2 and 3.
Bus
SkyBus operates an express bus service from the airport to the city centre every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service has stops at Terminals 1, 3 and 4, and travellers can purchase tickets online, via an app or at the stop before boarding. In addition to SkyBus, there are several other authorised bus companies providing regular passenger services from the airport to areas throughout Victoria.
Rideshare
Rideshare services such as Uber, Ola, Didi and GoCatch are available at Melbourne Airport. Rideshare drivers pick up travellers from two locations: lane 1 of the forecourt for Qantas, International and Virgin Australia passengers, and level 2 inside the T4 Ground Transport Hub for Jetstar, Rex or Link Airways passengers. Passengers can be dropped off anywhere along Departure Drive and the T4 Transport Hub drop-off zone on level 1. There is a charge to use a rideshare service from the airport, which is currently AU$4.48 (including GST) per trip.
Taxi
Taxis are readily available at Melbourne Airport, with taxi ranks located close to all terminals. The Melbourne CBD is approximately a 30-minute fare from the airport. Passengers are advised not to accept any offers of taxi services outside of the designated taxi ranks at Terminals 1 and 4.
Chauffeur
Chauffeur services can be pre-arranged to meet passengers at any of the terminals. Drivers will meet at the designated Chauffeur meeting points inside the airport.
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The airport's commitment to sustainability
Melbourne Airport (IATA: MEL, ICAO: YMML), also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the main international airport serving Melbourne, the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. The airport is one of the largest in Australia in terms of land area, covering 2,741 hectares (6,773 acres). As operators of critical state infrastructure, Melbourne Airport recognises that adopting a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to its business operations is vital to its success.
Melbourne Airport has an Environment Policy that outlines its environmental principles and management objectives. In accordance with the Airports Act 1996, the airport is required to prepare and implement an Environment Strategy every five years, which forms part of the Melbourne Airport Master Plan approved by the Commonwealth Minister in February 2022. The airport is committed to continuous improvement in environmental management and was the first in Australia to achieve international certification of its Environmental Management System (EMS) in June 2004.
Melbourne Airport has implemented several initiatives to support its commitment to sustainability. This includes a site-wide Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that identifies potential environmental risks posed by the airport's operations and outlines measures to mitigate those risks. The airport also has a Sustainability in Design Template, which ensures that key aspects of sustainability are considered in the design and construction process. Additionally, Melbourne Airport has implemented three key solar projects to reduce its carbon emissions and move towards carbon neutrality. These projects include a 12MW solar array expected to provide approximately 25% of the airport's energy needs, a 1.8MW roof array on a warehouse in the Business Park, and a 100KW array + 140KW battery solar array to power an on-site water treatment plant.
The airport also manages issues related to ground-based noise associated with airport operations and holds quarterly meetings to review aircraft noise exposure impacts. Melbourne Airport is committed to supporting its increasing energy use in a sustainable way and reducing its energy consumption to lower operational greenhouse gas emissions.
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$19.9
The airport's history and expansion
Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne, Australia. It is the second busiest airport in the country, behind Sydney Airport, and is the main and sole international airport serving Victoria. The airport opened in 1970, replacing the neighbouring Essendon Airport, which had become too small to accommodate the growing demand for air travel in the 1950s.
Melbourne Airport was built to satisfy the need for bigger runways capable of accommodating large aircraft, such as the Boeing 747. On opening, the airport consisted of three connected terminals: International in the centre, with Ansett to the south or left, and Trans Australia Airlines to the north or right. The design capacity of the airport was eight Boeing 707s at a rate of 500 passengers per hour. However, by the late 1980s, peak passenger flows had reached 900 per hour, causing major congestion. As a result, minor expansion works were completed in 1973 to allow Boeing 747s to serve the airport.
In 1988, the Australian Government formed the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC), placing Melbourne Airport under its operational control along with 21 other airports across the nation. The FAC undertook a number of upgrades at the airport, with the first major upgrades carried out at the domestic terminals. An expansion of the Ansett domestic terminal was approved in 1989 and completed in 1991, adding a second pier for use by smaller regional airlines. Work on upgrading the international terminal commenced in 1991, with the "SkyPlaza" retail complex completed in late 1993. The rest of the work was finished in 1995, with the opening of a new three-level satellite concourse at the end of the existing concourse, doubling the international passenger handling capacity.
In 1997, Melbourne Airport was privatised and acquired by the Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited for $1.3 billion. In June of that year, the Melbourne Airport website was launched, providing Australia's first real-time flight operations data over the internet. The airport has continued to undergo improvements and expansions over the years, including the construction of a new exit for Terminal 4 in mid-2023. Today, Melbourne Airport features direct flights to 33 domestic destinations and numerous destinations across the world. It recorded around 24 million domestic passengers and 11 million international passengers in FY June 2024.
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Facilities and amenities
Melbourne Airport, also known as Melbourne Tullamarine Airport or MEL, is the main international airport serving Melbourne, Australia. The airport is located about 14-23 km from the city centre and is accessible via the Tullamarine Freeway. It is one of the busiest airports in Australia, serving about 31.1 million passengers in 2012-13 and recording around 25 million domestic passenger movements and around 10 million international passenger movements in 2016-17. Melbourne Airport boasts a wide range of facilities and amenities to ensure a comfortable and convenient travel experience for its passengers.
The airport has five car parks, all of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The short-term, multi-level long-term, business, and express carparks are covered, while the long-term parking is not. The airport also offers a variety of transport options, including the SkyBus, which operates express bus services to and from the city centre, and taxis, which are available right outside the terminals.
Melbourne Airport has a wealth of shopping facilities located in the International Terminal building, close to the departures and arrivals areas. Popular shops include Australian Made, BC by Beach Culture, the Internationale Nes Bar, News Travels, Newslink, Rip Curl, Rolling Luggage, Witchery, and WHSmith. There are also two First Tax and Duty-Free stores in Terminal 2 (International). Passengers can also explore the numerous boutiques and duty-free stores at the airport, offering a range of products, including clothing, accessories, and local Australian items.
When it comes to dining, Melbourne Airport has a diverse selection of restaurants, cafes, bars, and eateries to suit different tastes and preferences. Passengers can enjoy international cuisine or savour Australian specialties. Coffee lovers can indulge in a variety of coffee shops, including Cafe Arome, Cafe Ton, Cafe Vue, the Hightide Lounge, Hudsons Coffee, and Macchinetta. For those looking for a more relaxing experience before their flight, the airport offers three lounges within T2 international departures, where Open Access is available. The House by Aspire Lounge, located in T2 on the third floor, offers delicious seasonal menus, self-serve dishes, and barista-made coffees, all included in the price of entry. The Marhaba Lounge, located between gates 9 and 11, provides comfortable seating, free WiFi, showers, and massage chairs.
Other amenities at Melbourne Airport include ATMs, currency exchange services, luggage wrapping and storage, free Wi-Fi, internet kiosks, prayer rooms, smoking rooms, and a medical centre in the International Terminal. The airport also provides facilities for disabled passengers, including specially allocated parking spaces, pick-up and drop-off points outside the terminals, adapted toilets, and wheelchairs (available upon request).
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Frequently asked questions
The airport code for Melbourne Airport is MEL.
Melbourne Airport is located approximately 23km from Melbourne's central business district. It is adjacent to the suburb of Tullamarine, which is why it is also known as Tullamarine Airport.
Melbourne Airport has four terminals: one international terminal and three domestic terminals.
You can get to Melbourne Airport by car, taxi, bus, or train. The SkyBus provides a convenient service to and from the airport, with stops located directly outside baggage collection and arrivals at Terminals 1, 3, and 4.
Melbourne Airport has five car parks available 24 hours a day, offering short-term, multi-level long-term, business, and express parking options.
