Melbourne Airport (MEL), still widely called Tullamarine Airport, is the main gateway to Melbourne and to Victoria. It lies in the Tullamarine area, roughly 22 to 25 km north-west of the Melbourne CBD, and ranks as Australia's second-busiest airport. Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar all run hubs here. There are four passenger terminals, and all of them sit under one roof: T1 Domestic for Qantas, T2 International for every overseas flight, T3 Domestic for Virgin Australia and T4 Domestic for Jetstar, Rex and other domestic carriers. Melbourne is also served by Avalon Airport (AVV) to the south-west and Essendon Fields Airport (MEB) closer in, so check which airport your booking names.

Tullamarine was built to run without a curfew, and it operates 24 hours a day. Below you will find which airline flies from which terminal, how to reach the city by SkyBus, taxi or bus, where to park, what the terminals offer and a few habits that make a Melbourne departure less rushed.

Terminals and airlines at Melbourne Airport

The four terminals at MEL line up side by side in a single building. Domestic flights use T1, T3 or T4 depending on the airline, and every international flight uses T2. That means the same airline can use two terminals: a Qantas trip to Sydney leaves from T1, while a Qantas trip to Singapore leaves from T2. Terminal assignments change from time to time, so check the terminal on your e-ticket before you leave home.

T1 Domestic

T1 is the Qantas domestic terminal. Flights operated by Qantas within Australia check in and board here.

• Qantas (domestic flights)

If your Qantas booking is an international one, head to T2 International instead.

T2 International

T2 handles all international departures and arrivals at Melbourne Airport. The airport's airline directory lists these passenger airlines for T2:

• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• Asiana Airlines
• Batik Air
• Batik Air Malaysia
• Beijing Capital Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Cebu Pacific
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Fiji Airways
• Finnair
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hainan Airlines
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar (international flights)
• Juneyao Air
• Korean Air
• LATAM Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Maldivian
• Philippine Airlines
• Qantas (international flights)
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Brunei Airlines
• Scoot
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Sichuan Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• Thai Airways
• TransNusa
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• Vietjet
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Australia (international flights)
• Xiamen Airlines

Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar appear on this list for their overseas services only. On a codeshare, the airline that operates the aircraft is the one whose counter you need, and your e-ticket names it.

T3 Domestic

T3 is Virgin Australia's domestic terminal. Check-in for Virgin flights within Australia happens here, though some Virgin Australia flights occasionally board from the neighbouring T4, so watch the screens after check-in at T3.

• Virgin Australia (domestic flights)

Virgin Australia's international flights are the exception and use T2.

T4 Domestic

T4 serves the other domestic airlines. It is the terminal for Jetstar's flights within Australia and for the regional carriers below.

• Jetstar (domestic flights)
• Rex
• Link Airways
• Alliance Airlines

T4 works a little differently from the other terminals. After security you wait in a shared departures lounge, and your gate appears on the screens about 30 minutes before the flight.

Moving between terminals

Because every terminal is in the one building, you walk from one to the next. The airport warns that the walk between terminals can take 10 to 15 minutes, and that T1 to T4 is at least a 10-minute walk, so leave time if you are connecting. Travellers in T3 can also reach T4 after security without going back through screening.

Getting to and from Melbourne Airport

Every way into Melbourne from Tullamarine is by road. The SkyBus express is the usual choice for the CBD, and taxis, rideshare and a slower public bus cover the rest. Fares are set by each operator and shown at the ticket booth, the rank or in the app.

SkyBus

SkyBus is the airport's express bus. It leaves from the ground level, with stops at T1, T2 and T4 and ticket booths in T1 and T2. The ride to Melbourne City takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. SkyBus runs 24/7, and besides the city service it also has routes to St Kilda and Frankston.

Taxi

Taxi ranks are on the ground floor outside T1, between T2 and T3, and at T4. Expect about 30 to 35 minutes to the city, and longer in peak traffic.

Rideshare

Rideshare cars use dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas that serve all four terminals. Follow the rideshare signs from the arrivals hall to find your driver.

Public bus

A public bus leaves from the ground floor of the Transport Hub near T4. You need a myki card to ride, and the trip takes around 70 minutes, so it suits travellers on a budget with time to spare.

Car rental

The rental car desks are across the forecourt from T2. The drive to the CBD follows the Tullamarine Freeway, where tolls may apply, so check how your rental company charges them.

Road works around the terminals

The roads around the terminals are being upgraded as part of the Naarm Way Stage 2 and Sunbury Road projects. Expect detours, lane closures and changed car park entries. The airport asks drivers to allow up to 60 minutes extra and suggests the T4 pick-up area to avoid congestion outside T1 to T3. These works are temporary, so check the airport's latest updates before you drive.

Parking at Melbourne Airport

The At Terminal car parks put you within a short walk of T1, T2 and T3, and T4 has its own At Terminal T4 car park. For longer trips there is Long Term parking, along with Premium and Valet options, including Qantas Valet and Virgin Valet for travellers flying with those airlines.

Dropping someone off? The drop-off zones are out the front of T1, T2 and T3, and on level 1 of the At Terminal T4 car park. Parking prices depend on how long you stay and when you book, so check them on the airport's parking pages.

Opening hours at Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport has no curfew. It operates 24 hours a day, every day, and it was designed that way from the start. For travellers, it means a late arrival or a very early flight is easier to manage here than at a curfew airport.

Getting away after a night arrival is straightforward too, because SkyBus runs around the clock and taxis serve every terminal.

Facilities at Melbourne Airport

Each terminal has shops, places to eat and the basics for a wait, with the widest choice in T2 International. These are the facilities travellers look for most.

Duty free shopping

Duty free is in T2 International, both for departing travellers after passport control and for arriving travellers. You can also order duty free online and collect it at the airport. The Tourist Refund Scheme counter is just after passport control in T2, so leave a few minutes there if you plan to claim tax back on eligible purchases.

Terminal layout

The layout differs slightly by terminal. In T1 Domestic, check-in and security are on the first floor and baggage reclaim is on the ground floor. In T2 International, check-in and departures are on the first floor, with arrivals and baggage reclaim on the ground floor. In T3 Domestic, Virgin Australia check-in is on the first floor and security is on the mezzanine level. In T4 Domestic, check-in and bag drop are on the ground floor and security is on the first floor, followed by the shared departures lounge.

Lounges

Melbourne Airport has airline lounges and pay-to-use lounges. Most are in T2 International after security, where you will find the Qantas First and Business lounges, the Emirates Lounge, the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge and the Air New Zealand Lounge. The pay-to-use Marhaba Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounge and AMEX Lounge are in T2 as well.

On the domestic side, T1 has the Qantas Domestic Lounge. T3 has the Virgin Australia Lounge on the mezzanine. T4 has the Rex Lounge. Entry to airline lounges depends on your ticket class or membership.

Food and drink

Every terminal has shops and places to eat both before and after security, so you can eat with whoever is seeing you off or wait until you are airside. T4 has a food court after security.

Luggage storage

Smartcarte baggage storage is on the ground floor of T2, which is handy for a long layover or a day in the city. There are also public lockers on the ground floor of the At Terminal T4 car park.

Smoking areas

Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside the terminals. There are a limited number of designated smoking areas outside, including one outside T1 on level 1. Transit passengers have no smoking area, so plan for that on a long connection.

Currency exchange and ATMs

ATMs are spread throughout the airport. Prosegur currency exchange has counters in T2 International before and after security and in T2 arrivals, and T1, T3 and T4 also have Prosegur outlets or ATMs.

Free Wi-Fi and charging

Free Wi-Fi covers the terminals and the car parks. Phone charging stations are available in both the international and domestic terminals.

Showers

T2 International has showers in departures, both before and after security. Towels are not available for hire, so pack your own if you want a freshen-up.

Prayer rooms

Two multi-faith prayer rooms are open 24/7: one on the ground floor between T2 and T3, and one in T2 after security. The chaplaincy office is on Level 2 of T2.

Families and accessibility

Baby change and parents rooms are in every terminal, and Changing Places adult change facilities are in T1, T2, T3 and T4. If you need a wheelchair, ask your airline, which provides them free of charge.

Tips for departing and arriving at Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport does not publish a fixed time to arrive. It asks travellers to check with their airline. As a guide, Qantas suggests arriving at least 2 hours before an international departure and at least 60 minutes before a domestic one. While the road works continue, add extra time on top of that.

On departure day, confirm the terminal first. The classic mix-up at MEL is a Qantas, Virgin Australia or Jetstar traveller going to the domestic terminal for an international flight, or the other way round. Domestic passengers check in or drop bags, then pass security. International passengers check in at T2 and then go through security and passport control.

Arriving from overseas, you clear immigration and customs in T2 before reaching the arrivals hall. Entry rules for Australia are set by the government, so check the official guidance for your passport before you fly. For up-to-date departure and arrival times, see the Traveloka flight status page.

Flights and flight schedule from Melbourne Airport

This page doubles as a planning tool for trips from MEL. The fare cards show fares from Melbourne to popular destinations, which helps you compare routes at a glance. The flight schedule tables list upcoming flights at Melbourne Airport by date, with the airline and scheduled times. They show a selection of flights, not every service, so treat them as a starting point.

Pick a route, compare airlines and departure times for your dates, then note which terminal the flight uses. Not happy with the fare yet? Set a Price Alert and Traveloka will let you know when it changes. Your e-ticket arrives by email and in the app after booking.

Popular routes from Melbourne Airport include:

• Melbourne to Sydney flights
• Melbourne to Brisbane flights
• Melbourne to Gold Coast flights
• Melbourne to Perth flights
• Melbourne to Hobart flights
• Melbourne to Bali flights
• Melbourne to Singapore flights
• Melbourne to Auckland flights

Whether it is a weekend in Sydney or a long-haul trip from T2, compare flights from Melbourne Airport on Traveloka and book the one that fits your plans.