Cheap flights from Melbourne Airport

Planning a trip starts with one simple step: seeing where you can fly. And with so many flights from Melbourne, the possibilities are wide open. Thinking local? Hop across to Tassie, zip up to the Gold Coast, or land in Sydney in time for lunch. Looking further? Explore Southeast Asia, the US, or New Zealand on direct routes with great deals year-round. 

Melbourne Airport is open 24 hours a day, has four terminals under one roof, and handles everything from budget escapes to big overseas adventures. It’s close to the CBD and well-connected, so getting there is just as easy as taking off.

Destinations you can fly to direct from Melbourne Airport

Domestic destinations:

• Australian Capital Territory: Canberra
• New South Wales: Albury, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Merimbula, Newcastle, Orange, Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong
• Northern Territory: Alice Springs, Darwin, Uluru
• Queensland: Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast), Sunshine Coast, Townsville
• South Australia: Adelaide, Mount Gambier
• Tasmania: Burnie, Devonport, Hobart, Launceston
• Victoria: Mildura
• Western Australia: Broome, Busselton, Perth

International destinations:

• Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan
• Chile: Santiago de Chile
• China: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Haikou, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen
• Fiji: Nadi
• Hong Kong: Hong Kong
• India: Delhi, Mumbai
• Indonesia: Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta
• Japan: Tokyo
• Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur
• New Zealand: Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington
• Philippines: Manila
• Qatar: Doha
• Singapore: Singapore
• South Korea: Seoul
• Sri Lanka: Colombo
• Taiwan: Taipei
• Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket
• United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
• United States: Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco
• Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

Cheap destinations you can fly to from Melbourne Airport

• Launceston: From AU$54 one-way
• Gold Coast: From AU$90 one-way
• Cairns: From AU$121 one-way
• Ho Chi Minh City: From AU$193 one-way
• Singapore: From AU$211 one-way
• Bali: From AU$222 one-way
• Auckland: From AU$232 one-way
• Nadi: From AU$232 one-way
• Manila: From AU$289 one-way
• Bangkok: From AU$292 one-way
• Kuala Lumpur: From AU$310 one-way
• Shanghai: From AU$441 one-way
• Delhi: From AU$666 one-way

Airlines flying from Melbourne Airport

• Air China: Beijing
• Air India: Delhi
• Air New Zealand: Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington
• AirAsia X: Kuala Lumpur
• Asiana Airlines: Seoul–Incheon
• Batik Air: Denpasar
• Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong
• Cebu Pacific: Manila
• China Airlines: Taipei
• China Eastern Airlines: Nanjing, Shanghai
• China Southern Airlines: Guangzhou
• Delta Airlines: Los Angeles
• Emirates: Dubai
• Etihad: Abu Dhabi, Dubai
• Fiji Airways: Nadi
• Garuda Indonesia: Denpasar, Jakarta
• Hainan Airlines: Haikou
• Hong Kong Airlines: Hong Kong
• Japan Airlines: Tokyo
• Jetstar: Adelaide, Auckland, Uluru, Ballina, Bangkok, Brisbane, Busselton, Cairns, Canberra, Christchurch, Darwin, Denpasar, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Hobart, Ho Chi Minh City, Launceston, Nadi, Newcastle, Perth, Phuket, Proserpine, Queenstown, Singapore, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Townsville
• Juneyao Air: Shanghai
• LATAM: Santiago de Chile
• Link Airways: Dubbo, Orange, Wollongong
• Malaysia Airlines: Kuala Lumpur
• Philippine Airlines: Manila
• Qantas: Adelaide, Albury, Alice Springs, Auckland, Brisbane, Broome, Burnie, Cairns, Canberra, Christchurch, Coffs Harbour, Dallas/Fort Worth, Darwin, Delhi, Denpasar, Devonport, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Jakarta, Launceston, Los Angeles, Mildura, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown, Singapore, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Tokyo, Townsville, Wagga Wagga, Wellington
• Qatar Airways: Doha
• Rex Airlines: Burnie, Devonport, King Island, Merimbula, Mildura, Mount Gambier, Wagga Wagga
• Royal Brunei Airlines: Bandar Seri Begawan
• Scoot: Singapore
• Shenzhen Airlines: Shenzhen
• Sichuan Airlines: Chengdu
• Singapore Airlines: Singapore
• SriLankan Airlines: Colombo
• Thai Airways: Bangkok
• Turkish Airlines: Singapore
• United Airlines: Los Angeles, San Francisco
• VietJet Air: Ho Chi Minh City
• Vietnam Airlines: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
• Virgin Australia: Adelaide, Uluru, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Denpasar, Doha, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Nadi, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown, Sunshine Coast, Sydney
• XiamenAir: Xiamen

Terminals at Melbourne Airport

Terminal 1 (T1)

Terminal 1 is used mainly by Qantas for domestic flights. It’s a solid choice for regular business and leisure travellers thanks to its streamlined layout, speedy check-in zones, and reliable bag drop. While it doesn’t offer free Wi-Fi like the other terminals, you’ll find baggage trolleys, secure bag wrapping, and luggage storage available. 

T1 is also connected to Terminals 2 and 3, so transferring between flights is easy. Car parking is right outside, though construction upgrades can slow things down near drop-off zones, so give yourself extra time.

Terminal 2 (T2)

Terminal 2 handles all international flights from Melbourne Airport. If you’re heading overseas, this is where your journey begins. T2 has duty-free shopping, high-end brands like La Perla and Tiffany & Co., and plenty of places to eat and relax. 

There are lounges for eligible travellers, foreign currency services, free Wi-Fi, and shower facilities. It’s also where you’ll find the airport’s multi-faith prayer rooms and lost property desk.

Terminal 3 (T3)

Virgin Australia operates most of its domestic flights from Terminal 3. It’s been recently upgraded with wider walkways, faster security screening, and new departure areas that make the journey smoother. 

Inside, there’s free Wi-Fi, food outlets, shopping, and access to the Virgin Lounge for eligible passengers. The terminal links directly to T1 and T2, so transferring between flights is simple. You’ll also find basic amenities like drinking fountains, phone charging stations, and a chemist.

Terminal 4 (T4)

Terminal 4 is Melbourne Airport’s dedicated budget terminal, used by airlines like Jetstar, Rex, and Link Airways. It’s modern, compact, and designed for fast turnarounds, with self-check-in kiosks and automated bag drops. You’ll need to walk a little further to reach your gate, so allow extra time after security. 

Once inside, T4 has a waiting lounge where you stay until your gate opens—check the screens for updates. There’s free Wi-Fi, shopping, and food outlets to keep you busy while you wait.

Getting to the airport

There are heaps of ways to get to Melbourne Airport, depending on your budget and timing:

• SkyBus: Runs every 10 minutes from Southern Cross Station. Allow around 30 - 40 minutes travel time.
• Public transport: PTV runs five scheduled services from the Terminal 4 Ground Transport Hub.
• Taxis and rideshare: Pick-up zones near every terminal. The CBD to the airport costs around AU$65 - 75.
• Driving: Expect about 25 - 35 minutes from the city via CityLink. Multiple parking options are available.
• Private transfer: Book a door-to-door service from nearby suburbs or regional areas.
• Charter buses: Coaches and regional shuttles drop off at designated terminal areas.

Nearby airports to consider flying from

• Avalon Airport: About 60 kms from Melbourne. It’s often cheaper for flights to Sydney and the Gold Coast with Jetstar. It’s much smaller and easier to navigate.
• Essendon Fields Airport: Mainly used for private charters and a few regional flights. Essendon is handy if you’re based north-west of the city.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Melbourne Airport?

May and February usually offer the best flight deals out of Melbourne, thanks to lower demand. You could save a heap by travelling in the off-peak season. The most expensive time is December, especially around Christmas and New Year, when prices often spike by 35% or more. 

Want to save even more? Look for mid-week or early morning flights. They’re usually easier on your wallet than weekends or evenings.