Getting from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport is a long drive. Depending on your suburb, you are looking at 35 to 80 kilometres of road and 45 to 90 minutes of travel time, before accounting for traffic.
The distance makes planning important. An app booking at 4am from Pakenham or Cranbourne is a gamble. Booking your taxi in advance confirms your driver before the morning of your flight, not at the moment you are already watching the clock.
Silver Taxi covers 47 suburbs across Melbourne and runs airport transfers every day of the year, at any hour.
The Suburbs We Cover
Silver Taxi operates across three corridor groups in Melbourne:
Frankston line: Cheltenham, Mentone, Highett, Moorabbin, Bonbeach, Carrum Downs, Seaford, Langwarrin, Frankston
Dandenong and Cranbourne line: Clayton, Springvale, Noble Park, Keysborough, Dandenong, Hallam, Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren, Berwick, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Lynbrook
Clayton cluster: Dingley Village, Braeside, Heatherton, Clayton South
If your suburb is not listed, call 0412 456 588 and we will confirm coverage.
What Does an Airport Transfer Cost?
Melbourne taxi fares are metered under rates set by the Victorian Commercial Passenger Vehicle Authority: $9.90 flag fall plus $2.20 per kilometre, minimum fare $39.90. No airport fee applies when we drop you off at Tullamarine. You pay the metered distance only.
To give you a reference point: Clayton runs around $75 to $90, Dandenong around $89 to $105 and Frankston around $118 to $140. Your exact figure depends on your pickup address and the route taken on the day.
For estimates across all 47 suburbs we cover, see our Melbourne to Airport fare guide.
Available at Any Hour
Silver Taxi takes bookings for any hour of the day, every day of the year. Most early morning airport runs from outer suburbs require a pick-up between 3am and 5am. Advance bookings let you confirm your driver the night before, so there are no surprises on departure morning.
On Friday and Saturday nights between 10pm and 4am, Tariff 3 applies across all licensed taxis in Victoria. The kilometre rate rises from $2.20 to $2.34. This is a VCAA rate, not a Silver Taxi surcharge, and it applies to every licensed cab operating in Melbourne during that window.
Meet and Greet on Arrival
For return trips from Melbourne Airport, Silver Taxi can meet you inside the terminal at the arrivals hall. Your driver monitors your flight in real time and adjusts the pick-up time if your flight is delayed.
If there is a significant delay, we contact you by phone or text to confirm revised arrangements. You will not land and find your booking cancelled or a driver who left an hour ago.
Luggage
A standard taxi fits one to two passengers with checked bags and carry-on luggage. For larger loads, including golf bags, surfboards, or multiple large suitcases, a Maxi Taxi is available. A Maxi Taxi surcharge of $17.80 applies to those bookings.
How to Book
Call or WhatsApp: 0412 456 588
Email: book@silver-taximelbourne.com.au
For early flights, book at least 24 hours ahead. Same-day bookings are accepted when you call at least 60 minutes before your required pick-up time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport by taxi?
Travel time from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport depends on your starting suburb and the time of day. From Clayton or Moorabbin, expect 40 to 55 minutes on a clear run via the freeway network through the city and north along the Tullamarine Freeway. From Dandenong or Noble Park, budget 45 to 60 minutes. From Frankston, Cranbourne, or Pakenham, allow 70 to 90 minutes.
Weekday peak hour traffic between 7am and 9am, and again between 4pm and 6:30pm, can add 20 to 40 minutes to these figures. For outer suburbs like Pakenham or Frankston, a 3:30am to 4:30am departure is standard for 6am to 7am domestic flights. For international flights with longer airport processing times, an earlier departure is common. A booked driver knows the corridor and will advise on a recommended departure time based on your specific address and flight.
Are there taxis at Melbourne Airport for the return journey?
Yes. Melbourne Airport has a dedicated taxi rank at the ground transport level of each terminal. Licensed taxis, including Silver Taxi, operate from the rank for passengers without a prior booking, on a queue basis.
If you want to avoid waiting at the rank, you can book a Silver Taxi pickup in advance. Your driver monitors your flight and meets you inside the arrivals hall at the correct time. This is useful for late night arrivals when rank queues can be shorter but wait times are still unpredictable.
The $5.26 airport return fee applies to all taxi pickups from Melbourne Airport. This is a Victorian government charge added to your metered fare. The fee covers airport access and the return toll. It applies whether you take a booked taxi or join the rank queue on arrival.
How much is an airport transfer from Dandenong to Melbourne Airport?
A taxi from Dandenong to Melbourne Airport costs approximately $89 to $105, depending on the exact route and traffic conditions on the day. This fare is calculated using the standard metered rate: $9.90 flag fall plus $2.20 per kilometre. The distance from most Dandenong addresses to Tullamarine is around 45 kilometres.
No airport fee applies on the outbound trip. The $5.26 airport return fee is charged only when picking up from Melbourne Airport, not when dropping off.
For early morning departures, the metered time component stays low because traffic is minimal. For trips during peak hour, the meter also runs on time when the taxi moves below a set speed, which can increase the final fare slightly above the distance-only estimate.
To confirm a fare based on your specific Dandenong address, call Silver Taxi on 0412 456 588. Advance bookings include a confirmed pickup time.
