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Melbourne Airport is the main international airport in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It has four terminals. One is international, two are domestic, and one is used by non-Australian airlines. It is the second most busiest airport in Australia. Opened in 1970, the airport was used to replace Essendon Airport, just 7.8 km from Melbourne Airport.

Melbourne Airport (IATA: MEL) is operated by Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited, and is the hub for five airlines, Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Regional Express Airlines, Tigerair Australia, and Virgin Australia. 

It has flown 234,789 airplanes (as of 2018/2019) and flown 37,395,992 passengers (as of 2018/2019). 

The Melbourne-Sydney air route is the third-most-travelled passenger air route in the world. Have you been on it? The airport can fly you to 33 domestic destinations and flights to the Pacific, Europe, North and South America and Asia! 44 airlines fly within this airport and many more cargo airlines. 

Passenger airlines include Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern and Southern Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and more. 

Melbourne Airport is served by four hotels, the nearest one, being PARKROYAL Hotel, just 100 meters outside Terminal 2 (T2). Originally called Hilton, the hotel is a six-story, 280-room giant. The other hotel is called Holiday Inn, 400 meters away from the terminal precinct. Ibis Budget, just 600 meters away from the terminals, offers lodgings! Mantra Tullamarine opened in 2009, 2 kilometres from the terminal precinct.

Melbourne Airport Parking

To get to MEL, you can take a taxi, a SkyBus, a train or you can drive there, and pay for parking in one of the five tower car parks, which is open 24/7. Prices start from $52 a day.

Only two accidents ever happened in Melbourne Airport. In 2003, QF1737, heading to Launceston Airport was hijacked. In 2009, an Emirates Airbus  A304-500, was taking off to Dubai, when it failed to take off into the air. Severe damage was done.

Melbourne Airport has been ranked upon the top five airports in the world, by  the  International Air Transport Association, in 1997 and 1998. In 2003, MEL received the IATA’s Eagle Award for service and two (national and state) National Tourism Awards for tourism services.  In, 2002 and 2004, Singapore Airlines, respectively, presented MEL with the Service Partner Award and Premier Business Partner Award. In 2006, the airport won the Australian Construction Achievement Award for the runway widening project, dubbed "the most outstanding example of construction excellence for 2006". In 2012, Parkroyal Melbourne Airport was awarded for the best airport hotel in Australia/the Pacific by Skytrax. According to Skytrax World's Top 100 Airports List, Melbourne Airport has improved from ranked 43rd in 2012 to 27th in 2018.

What to do

Arrivals

If you can use, the SmartGate option for passports. Arriving process is quick. International arrivals, head through the hall, past the Duty Free, past the passport area, then through baggage claim, then stand in line to present your card which will handed to you by your airline before departure.

International > Domestic

If arriving internationally and having a layover to a domestic airport, you will need to exit the airport and then check-in again. Passports are not required for travelling within Australia.

Flights