Melbourne Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melbourne Airport Tullamarine Airport
Melbourne Airport Terminal 1 with Qantas Boeing 737 (VH-VXR) and Jetstar aircraft
IATA: MEL ICAO: YMML
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited
Serves	Melbourne
Location	Tullamarine
Elevation AMSL	434 ft / 132 m
Coordinates	37°40′24″S 144°50′36″E / 37.67333°S 144.84333°E / -37.67333; 144.84333
Website	www.melair.com.au
Runway
Runway Length Surface m ft 09/27 2,286 7,500 Asphalt 16/34 3,657 11,998 Asphalt
Statistics (2006-2007)
Total Passengers 22,495,000 Intl Passengers 4,532,000 Total Movements 180,500 Domestic Movements 151,200

Melbourne Airport (MEL) is a very important airport in Australia. It's the second busiest airport in the country! Many airlines use it as their main base, like Jetstar. Big airlines such as Qantas and Virgin Australia also use it as a central point for their flights. Cargo airlines, which carry goods instead of people, also have their main operations here.

About Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport is located in a suburb called Tullamarine. This is why it's also often called Tullamarine Airport. It plays a big role in connecting people and goods across Australia and the world.

How Big is the Airport?

Melbourne Airport has two main runways where planes take off and land.

• One runway is about 2,286 meters (7,500 feet) long.
• The other runway is even longer, about 3,657 meters (11,998 feet) long.

Both runways are made of asphalt, which is a strong material.

How Many People Use It?

Millions of passengers travel through Melbourne Airport every year.

• In one recent year, over 22 million people used the airport.
• About 4.5 million of these travelers were on international flights.

The airport also handles a huge number of plane movements, which means take-offs and landings.

History of the Airport

Melbourne Airport officially opened in 1970. Before this, the main airport for Melbourne was Essendon Airport. The new airport was built to handle more flights and bigger planes.

Opening Day

When Melbourne Airport opened, the Prime Minister of Australia, John Gorton, gave a speech. This was a big event for the city and the country. It marked a new era for air travel in Victoria.

Getting to the Airport

There are several ways to get to Melbourne Airport.

• By Car: The airport is connected to the city by the Tullamarine Freeway.
• By Bus: A special bus service called SkyBus runs regularly between the airport and the city center.
• Other Transport: Taxis and ride-sharing services are also available.

Airport Terminals

Melbourne Airport has several terminals, which are buildings where passengers check in, go through security, and board their flights. Each terminal handles different types of flights or airlines.

• Terminal 1: Mostly used by Qantas for domestic flights.
• Terminal 2: Handles all international flights.
• Terminal 3: Used by Virgin Australia for domestic flights.
• Terminal 4: Used by budget airlines for domestic flights.

Images for kids

• 

  Prime Minister John Gorton giving a speech at the opening of Melbourne Airport in 1970.

• 

  Australian Airlines Boeing 727 at Melbourne Airport in 1988.

• 

  Terminal 1 Departures

• 

  T2 Departure Gates

• 

  Terminal 3 interior

• 

  Pier with gates 41-52, part of Terminal 4

• 

  Walkway to car park

• 

  Tullamarine Freeway at the Calder Freeway interchange

• 

  A SkyBus travelling to Melbourne Airport.

See also

In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Tullamarine para niños