Best public transport options to and from Melbourne Airport
Options to get between Melbourne Airport and Melbourne CBD by public transport. SkyBus offers a faster and more frequent service, public transport allows a low flat fee for a 901 bus to the train station.
901 bus departs every 15–30 minutes – journey time to Broadmeadows train station is 15 minutes. Connect for trains to the city which take 30 minutes.
The 901 runs from Melbourne Airport T4 (a short walk to the other terminals). The whole journey sits within the Victorian daily fare cap, making it the cheapest way into the city by public transport.
Contactless available on all Melbourne buses from July 2026. Tap your Mastercard, Visa or phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay on the bus validator to pay – from July 2026. $2.85 includes two hours of travel on any mode of transport, so the total cost to Melbourne CBD including train and bus is $2.85 for full fare adults.
More on paying for transport in Melbourne →The flagship service, running direct to Southern Cross Station in the Melbourne CBD. From there you can connect to every metropolitan and regional train line, plus trams within the Free Tram Zone.
From $25.90 one way (adult), or $43.40 return when booked online. See Melbourne City Express fares.
Serves Melbourne's bayside suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula, with stops from St Kilda through Brighton, Southland and Mordialloc down to Frankston.
From $28 one way (adult), varying by destination. See Peninsula Express fares.
Runs to Melbourne's eastern suburbs, stopping at Watsonia Station, Westfield Doncaster and Box Hill Central.
From $21 one way (adult), or from $17 one way for seniors. See Eastern Express fares.
A direct shuttle to Sunshine Station in Melbourne's west, where you can connect to Metro and V/Line services towards Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.
$17 one way (adult). See Sunshine Express fares.
All SkyBus services use fixed prices, all day every day. Compare all SkyBus fares.
Buy tickets at a SkyBus self-serve kiosk or in the SkyBus app, then scan your QR code ticket as you board. SkyBus fares are separate from the Victorian daily fare cap. Contactless tap-and-go with Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay is expected to come to SkyBus later in 2026.
More on paying for transport in Melbourne →Catch a train on the Craigieburn line to Broadmeadows – around 30 minutes from the city – then transfer to the 901 bus, which reaches Melbourne Airport T4 in about 15 minutes.
901 buses run every 15–30 minutes. The full trip is covered by the Victorian daily fare cap, so it's the lowest-cost public transport route to the airport. This option also suits passengers arriving from Craigieburn-line stations, or from Seymour, Shepparton and Albury V/Line services.
Contactless available on all Melbourne buses from July 2026. Tap your Mastercard, Visa or phone with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay on the bus validator to pay – from July 2026. $2.85 includes two hours of travel on any mode of transport, so the total cost to Melbourne CBD including train and bus is $2.85 for full fare adults.
More on paying for transport in Melbourne →Direct from Southern Cross Station in the Melbourne CBD to the airport – the fastest option for travellers staying in the city centre.
From $25.90 one way (adult), or $43.40 return online. See Melbourne City Express fares.
Pick-ups across the bayside suburbs and Mornington Peninsula, from St Kilda down to Frankston, straight through to the airport.
From $28 one way (adult), varying by pick-up point. See Peninsula Express fares.
Departs from Watsonia Station, Westfield Doncaster and Box Hill Central for passengers in Melbourne's east.
From $21 one way (adult), or from $17 one way for seniors. See Eastern Express fares.
Departs Sunshine Station in Melbourne's west – handy if you're connecting from a Metro or V/Line service from Ballarat, Bendigo or Geelong.
$17 one way (adult). See Sunshine Express fares.
All SkyBus services use fixed prices, all day every day. Compare all SkyBus fares.
Buy tickets at a SkyBus self-serve kiosk or in the SkyBus app, then scan your QR code ticket as you board. SkyBus fares are separate from the Victorian daily fare cap. Contactless tap-and-go with Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay is expected to come to SkyBus later in 2026.
More on paying for transport in Melbourne →How long until Melbourne gets a train to the airport:
5+ years
Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1 is underway, but no confirmed date exists for Stage 2 which would include the airport station. See where this would go.
Mockup by Jeremy Burge, Better Map for Melbourne. Indicative route using publicly available information as of 2026. Route, stations and timeline may change.