Airports in Australia

Sydney Airport (SYD), also referred to as Kingsford-Smith Airport, is situated in the suburb of Mascot, near Botany Bay, approximately 6 miles (9km) from Sydney, Australia’s largest city and main commercial and tourist hub. It is one of the oldest continuously running airports in the world and, having handled just over 35.9 million passengers in 2010, is Australia’s busiest aerial hub.

Comprising three passenger terminals, namely International Terminal T1 and Domestic Terminals T2 and T3, Sydney Airport is home to a vast array of world-class shopping and dining venues, as well as a host of facilities and amenities for both tourists and business travellers. Check-in, baggage claims, immigrations, customs and security are generally smooth and painless; however, like most international airports, standard airport processes can slow down during peak times. 

In essence, Sydney Airport is clean, efficient and well maintained. Better yet, transport to and from the airport is abundant and therefore makes this airport an ideal gateway for those travelling to Sydney and surrounds.  

Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is one of the biggest and busiest in Australia, handling more than 28 million passengers each year and servicing the greater Melbourne area of Victoria.

The airport has four terminals: Terminal 1 services domestic flights from Qantas and its affiliates, Terminal 2 handles international flights, Terminal 3 is devoted to Virgin Australia and Regional Express Airlines (Rex), and Terminal 4 is for Tiger Airways.

The airport has modern (if modest) facilities for such a high-volume hub, but generally handles the crowds with style. The only hiccups come at Australia’s notoriously strict customs points, where queues can sometimes be long and frustrating.

Flights to Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport come in from all over Asia and Oceania, with select routes from further abroad, including Beijing, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Shanghai, Auckland, Singapore, Sydney, Manila, Los Angeles, London, Cairns, Canberra, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Honolulu, Bali, Mauritius, Doha, Phuket, Perth and Hanoi.