Melbourne International Airport (MEL), is in Tullamarine 21km north of the city centre. This airport handles all international flights and most domestic flights.
The cheapest way to travel between the airport and the city centre is by public transport, which involves taking a suburban train to Broadmeadows (on the Craigieburn line) and then transferring to bus 901 to the airport. Both the train and bus run every 30 minutes and you should allow at least an hour and 10 minutes for the journey. The one-way fare is $3.76.
Skybus is the quickest and easiest way to get to and from the airport with buses departing right outside the main airport terminal and the trip between the airport and the city centre taking only 35 minutes. Skybus run frequent airport bus services to the Southern Cross coach terminal on Spencer Street in the city centre with services running 24 hours every 15 minutes during the day ($18 one-way). Between 7am and 6pm Skybus provide a complimentary shuttle service between the Southern Cross coach terminal on Spencer Street and to backpackers hostels and hotels in the city centre.
A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs between $45 and $55.