Taxi From Essendon 3040 to Melbourne Airport
The run between Essendon and Tullamarine covers about 12.4 km. We price the trip out and the trip back separately, because they genuinely cost different amounts.
Essendon to Melbourne Airport
- Day rate flag fall $5.40
- Distance, 12.4 km at $2.10 per km $26.04
Melbourne Airport to Essendon
- Day rate flag fall $5.40
- Distance, 12.4 km at $2.10 per km $26.04
- Airport pickup fee $5.26
The two directions are not the same price. Every car leaving an airport rank pays a $5.26 pickup fee, so the inbound trip runs about that much higher than the outbound one for the identical distance. Anyone quoting you one flat number for a return has rolled that into an average.
Essendon Airport Transfer Fares
Both legs, every vehicle, calculated on the real road distance. Shown as ranges because traffic decides the last few dollars, not because the rate is uncertain.
| Car | Seats | Luggage | To the airport | From the airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | 4 | 2 large and 2 small bags | $29 to $37 | $34 to $43 |
| Silver Service | 4 | 2 large and 2 small bags | $40 to $49 | $45 to $55 |
| SUV or Wagon | 4 | 4 large and 3 small bags | $46 to $57 | $51 to $63 |
| Maxi Cab | 11 | 8 large bags | $46 to $57 | $51 to $63 |
What the Essendon Airport Run Looks Like
From Essendon the driver heads a short run up the Tullamarine Freeway. The distance is about 12.4 km and the usual door to terminal time is around 17 minutes, which is a normal traffic figure rather than a best case one.
The weekday peaks are what move this number. Between about 7am and 9.30am, and again from 3.30pm, the same trip can take noticeably longer, and a slow crawl is charged on the time rate rather than the distance rate.
For an international flight, allow about 3.5 hours between pickup in Essendon and departure. For a domestic flight, two hours is usually comfortable.
Returning the other way, tell us the flight number when you book. A car meeting a delayed flight is only useful if it knows the flight is delayed.
On This Transfer
Essendon to Melbourne Airport, Answered
How much is a taxi from Essendon to Melbourne Airport?
Around $29 to $37 in a sedan for the roughly 12.4 km trip. That is the metered rate applied to the real distance, with the toll included where the route carries one.
Why does the return trip cost more?
Because a cab leaving the airport pays a $5.26 pickup fee that a cab arriving there does not. Same distance, same meter, one extra charge. That is why the airport to Essendon direction sits around $34 to $43 instead.
How early should I leave Essendon for my flight?
The drive is about 17 minutes in ordinary traffic. For an international departure allow roughly 3.5 hours in total from Essendon, and for a domestic flight about two hours. Add a buffer for the weekday peaks.
Can you fit a group and their luggage?
Yes. The maxi takes up to eleven people and 8 large bags, which is the usual choice for a family or a group flying together from Essendon. On this route it runs about $46 to $57 heading out.
Do you track my flight for the pickup?
Give us the flight number when you book and the pickup is set against the actual arrival time rather than the scheduled one. It costs nothing and it is the difference between a car waiting for you and a car that left.