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MEL Melbourne International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Melbourne International Airport (MEL) serves Melbourne, about 19 km northwest of Melbourne. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAMEL
ICAOYMML
ServesMelbourne
From centre19 km
Non-stop55
Airlines33
TimezoneAustralia/Hobart
Elevation132 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Melbourne International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Melbourne International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 26M passengers in 2022, against a peak of 37M in 2019.

Opened
1964
62 years ago
Passengers / year
26M
as of 2022
Peak traffic
37M
in 2019
Elevation
132 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Australia Pacific Airports Corporation
Passengers per year, 1985–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Official links

Melbourne International Airport — official sites

Airport to city

Getting from Melbourne International Airport to Melbourne

The airport is about 19 km northwest of Melbourne, about 40 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Sydney (Airport Link to the rail network), Brisbane (Airtrain), Melbourne (SkyBus — rail under construction), Perth (Airport Line).

Taxi & apps: Metered taxi + an airport levy. Uber, Ola and DiDi are legal, picked up from a set zone. Estimated fare to the centre: A$40–A$64.

Tipping: Not required; round up.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~28 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~40 minA$40–A$64
Private transfer~40 minfixed upfront
Car rental~40 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Melbourne International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~A$40–A$64 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Melbourne ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Melbourne International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 55 destinations, operated by 33 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Qantas · Virgin Australia · Jetstar Airways · Tiger Airways Australia · Regional Express · American Airlines · Emirates · China Eastern Airlines · Air New Zealand · Air India Limited

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Melbourne International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sailing from here?

Melbourne International Airport is the airport nearest Melbourne's cruise terminal. Cruises from Melbourne — which lines and where ›

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Melbourne International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Melbourne shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Melbourne International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Melbourne

Same country

Other airports in Australia

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Melbourne International Airport to the centre of Melbourne?
Sydney (Airport Link to the rail network), Brisbane (Airtrain), Melbourne (SkyBus — rail under construction), Perth (Airport Line). The airport is about 19 km northwest of Melbourne, about 40 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Melbourne International Airport to Melbourne?
Roughly A$40–A$64 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Melbourne International Airport?
Metered taxi + an airport levy. Uber, Ola and DiDi are legal, picked up from a set zone.
What's the cheapest way from Melbourne International Airport to Melbourne?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Sydney (Airport Link to the rail network), Brisbane (Airtrain), Melbourne (SkyBus — rail under construction), Perth (Airport Line).
Can I get from Melbourne International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Sydney (Airport Link to the rail network), Brisbane (Airtrain), Melbourne (SkyBus — rail under construction), Perth (Airport Line). For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Melbourne International Airport?
About 55 destinations, including Auckland, Singapore, Sydney, Brisbane. 33 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Melbourne International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Melbourne International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Melbourne International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Melbourne city guide← Australia travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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