Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport, or Tullamarine Airport as it is sometimes called, is Australia’s second busiest airport after Sydney. Serving nearly 25 million passengers annually, Melbourne Airport receives almost 200,000 flights every year.
The airport opened in 1970 and is 23 kilometres (14 miles) from the City Centre. The airport has two intersecting runways, both of which are due for extension, and there are plans to build two additional runways to keep up with increased traffic.
It was the first airport in Australia to be able to handle the new two-storey A380 Airbus planes and Qantas currently flies them twice a week from Melbourne non-stop to Los Angeles while Singapore Airlines fly the A380 daily to Singapore Changi Airport.
Melbourne Airport even has an 18-hole par 70 golf course, the Melbourne Airport Golf Club, which runs adjacent to the North South runway.
Airlines
24 leading airlines, including Air China, Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qantas, Korean Air, Malaysian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, V Australia and Virgin Blue all fly international routes out of Melbourne. Regional carriers include Jetstar Airways, Qantas, Regional Express, Skywest Airlines, Tiger Airways Australia and Virgin Blue.
Flights
The ten busiest international routes flown out of Melbourne are to Singapore, Auckland, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Los Angeles, Dubai, Christchurch, London and Bali. On the domestic front, flights to Sydney (third most travelled passenger route in the world), Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Gold Coast, Hobart, Canberra, Launceston, Sunshine Coast and Cairns are most travelled.
Hotels
Early morning flight? You might like to come out the night before and stay at one of the four convenient airport hotels. The Park Royal Melbourne Airport (formerly the Hilton) is located near Terminal 2 above a multi-storey carpark.
Holiday Inn has a location 400 metres from the terminal, while 600 metres away is the Motel Formule 1.
The newest of the hotels (and also the farthest from the terminal at 2 kilometres) is the Mantra Tullamarine.
Parking
Parking at Melbourne is plentiful and there are parking solutions for all budgets. Five different parking options include an undercover multi-storey long-term lot (7 days for A$99) and outdoor long term parking (7 days for A$69). Parking is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. With a driving time of under 20 minutes from Kings Way, parking is a sensible option.
Further parking information can be found at http://www.melbourneairport.com.au/To-From-the-Airport/Airport-Parking/Car-Parking-Options-Calculator.html
Lounges
With earlier check-in times required for flights, it is nice to have somewhere comfortable to wait for your departure. If you are a business, premium or frequent flier cardholder you might enjoy some of the following lounges.
Terminal 1 has Qantas lounges for their Club, Business Class and Chairman status passengers.
Terminal 2 has lounges for Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand/United Airlines, Emirates and Qantas (who have two lounges – a First lounge and a Business/Qantas Club lounge).
Terminal 3 has lounges for Virgin Blue and REX.
Terminals
Melbourne airport currently has four terminals. One is for international flights, two are for domestic flights and the fourth one is for budget domestic carriers. There are a total of 56 gates.
Terminal 1 hosts Qantas, Jetstar and QantasLink servicing domestic flights. Arrivals are on the ground floor with Departures above.
Terminal 2 is the International Terminal with 16 gates. The terminal houses an art collection which allows the international traveller the opportunity to check out art works by celebrated Australian artists like Daisy Jugadai Napaltjarri and Gloria Petyarre.
Work commenced in 2007 on an A$330 million expansion of Terminal 2 due to open in 2012.
Terminal 3, for domestic flights, is home to Virgin Blue, Kendell and Regional Express.
Terminal 4 is for the use of budget airlines such as Tiger Airways Australia, who have used it as a main hub since 2007. Basic facilities reflect reduced landing and airport handling fees charged to the airlines. These savings are passed on to the consumer. The budget ethos stretches to retail outlets and other standard amenities which are fewer than in the other terminals.
Departures
Terminals 1-3 have plenty of shopping and eating options, while Terminal 4’s choices are a bit limited.
Terminal 2 has First Tax and Duty Free shops for duty and GST free shopping (you can even pre-order online to save the hassle). Pre-flight drinks and dining options include: Air Bar & Lounge, Billie Chu, Internationale News Bar, Nandos, Plonk Bar, Arome, Krispy Kreme and Subway.
Terminal 3 options include: Hightide Lounge, McDonalds, P.J. O'Brien's, The Fly Bar, and Krispy Kreme.
For current security guidelines please visit http://www.melbourneairport.com.au/Flight-Passenger-Info/Preparing-to-Fly/Security-Restrictions.html
Arrivals
From Melbourne Airport, it is easy to get on to any destination and there are 5 major car rental agencies ready to furnish you with a rental car: Thrifty, Budget, Hertz, Avis & Europcar. If you are picking a passenger up, the airport is easily accessible via CityLink and the Tullamarine Freeway. If you are waiting for passengers to arrive, you can grab a coffee while you wait at the Villa & Hut in Terminal 2.
For international travellers, there is a duty free shop in arrivals of Terminal 2 – the First Tax and Duty Free. For up-to-date details on arrivals, go to http://www.melbourneairport.com.au/Flight-Passenger-Info/Flight-Information/Current-Flights.html
Transportation
There are plenty of transportation options to get you to and from the Melbourne Airport. One of the easiest options is the Skybus Super Shuttle service which departs every 10 minutes and takes roughly 20 minutes to reach Southern Cross Station in the Melbourne Central Business District. It costs A$26 return. At Southern Cross passengers can transfer to the V/Line regional and Metro Trains suburban Melbourne trains, as well as Yarra Trams and various interstate train and bus services. Bus routes 478, 479 and 500 also connect with the airport.
The airport is also well served by taxi services. Anticipate a fare of around A$85 for return travel between CBD and Melbourne Airport.