How Should I Decide Which Melbourne Airport Fits My Trip?

Start with your ticket. Your airline decides which airport you use, and for most trips that is Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine. If your ticket says Avalon, go to Avalon. If you have a choice, pick the airport that is closest to where you start, has the flights you need, and costs the least once you add the trip to the airport. Book Melbourne Taxi has been driving Melbourne travellers since 2015, to Tullamarine, Avalon, Essendon Fields and Moorabbin, and the same few questions always sort it out.

The Four Melbourne Airports

Melbourne has four airports, but they are not all the same.

Airport	Distance from the CBD	What it is used for
Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)	About 23 km	Almost all flights, including every international flight
Avalon Airport	About 58 km by road	A smaller airport near Geelong, with fewer flights
Essendon Fields	About 15 km by road	Private jets, charter flights and a few small regional flights
Moorabbin Airport	South east of the city	Private planes and flight training

Melbourne Airport is the big one. It is open all day and all night, and it has four terminals. Avalon is much smaller, so there are fewer airlines and fewer places you can fly to. Essendon Fields and Moorabbin are mostly for private and small planes, so most travellers will never use them. If you are flying from Tullamarine, our guide to Melbourne's main domestic airport shows which terminal your airline uses.

How to Choose in Five Easy Steps

Go through these steps in order. They work better than choosing the cheapest ticket alone.

1. Look at your ticket. The airport is written on it. If you are flying overseas, it will be Tullamarine, because all international flights leave from Terminal 2.
2. Look at where you are going. Tullamarine flies to many more places than Avalon. If your destination is not on the Avalon list, the choice is made for you.
3. Look at where you are starting. If you live in Geelong or the south west, Avalon may be closer. If you live in the CBD, the north, the east or the south east, Tullamarine is closer.
4. Look at your flight time. Early and late flights are easier at Tullamarine, because it never closes and more transport runs at those times.
5. Add up the whole cost. Count the ticket, the ride to the airport and your time.

Does the Cheaper Ticket Always Win?

Not always. A cheap flight from Avalon can cost more in the end, because the airport is far from the city. Our fare estimator shows how big the gap can be. For a weekday daytime trip in a sedan, the CBD to Melbourne Airport is about $60 to $66. The CBD to Avalon Airport is about $137 to $151. Tolls are extra, and pickups from the airport add a $5.26 airport fee. That is a difference of about $77 to $85 each way, and the trip takes much longer.

So if the Avalon ticket saves you only $30 or $40, you will probably lose money overall. If you live near Geelong, the story is different, because Avalon is the short trip and Tullamarine is the long one. You can check your own trip with our taxi fare estimator. It gives an estimate, and if you want a fixed price, ask for a free quote and we will agree a fixed fare before you travel. Our Melbourne taxi fares guide explains how the rates work.

What Should Families, Groups and Business Travellers Think About?

• Families: bags, prams and young children make a long trip hard. Tullamarine is closer for most families in Melbourne, and you can book a taxi with a baby seat if you have little ones.
• Groups: if you have six or more people, pick a vehicle that fits everyone. Our Maxi Van takes up to 11 people and 6 to 8 suitcases, and you can see all the options on the fleet page.
• Business travellers: time matters most. Tullamarine has the most flights, so it gives you more choices if your plans change. Our corporate travel service has account billing for regular trips.
• Travellers from outside Melbourne: if you are coming from Geelong, Ballarat or Bendigo, see our city to city trips.

How to Get Picked Up at the Right Airport

Mistakes happen when people go to the wrong airport or the wrong terminal. Tell your driver your airline, your flight number and your terminal when you book. With Book Melbourne Taxi, you add your flight number, and we track your flight, so your driver knows if you land early or late. Your 30 minutes of free waiting starts when your plane lands, so there is time for your bags and the walk out. For all the details, see our Melbourne Airport transfers page, or book your taxi online. Weighing up other ways to get there? Read taxi vs Uber vs Skybus to Melbourne Airport.

Conclusion

Look at your ticket first. For almost every trip, Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine is the right airport, because it has the most flights, the longest hours and the easiest transport. Avalon makes sense mainly for people near Geelong, and Essendon Fields and Moorabbin are for private and small flights. Add up the whole cost before you book, and give your driver your flight number so they meet you in the right place.