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Melbourne Essendon Airport
Essendon Fields, Australia
Melbourne Essendon Airport
Historic Melbourne gateway serving general aviation and charter flights.
- ›Served as Melbourne's main commercial airport before Melbourne Airport opened at Tullamarine in 1970.
- ›Home to the RAAF Museum, which preserves significant Australian military aviation history.
- ›Air Ambulance Victoria operates its helicopter and fixed-wing emergency services from the airport.
- ›The surrounding precinct has been redeveloped into Essendon Fields, a mixed-use commercial and business park.
- ›The airport has two sealed runways and handles thousands of general aviation movements annually.
Melbourne Essendon Airport, located at Essendon Fields in Melbourne's inner north-west, is one of Australia's oldest continuously operating airports, with origins dating to the 1920s. Once Melbourne's primary international gateway before Tullamarine opened in 1970, it now serves charter flights, freight operations, corporate aviation, and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The precinct has evolved into a mixed-use business and retail hub while retaining its proud aviation heritage.
- General Aviation Terminal — Handles charter, corporate, and private aircraft operations with dedicated FBO facilities.
- Freight and Cargo Area — Supports overnight freight and logistics operators including StarTrack and similar carriers.
- Taxi and rideshare services available curbside
- Bus connections to Moonee Ponds and broader Melbourne network via nearby stops
- Car rental agencies available at the Essendon Fields precinct
- Private shuttle services for corporate clients
- Easy access to CityLink and Tullamarine Freeway for self-drive
- Quality Hotel Batman's Hill on Collins (nearby area)
- Essendon Fields Hotel
- Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine, nearby)
- ibis Melbourne Hotel & Apartments
The Essendon Fields retail precinct adjacent to the airport includes cafes, fast food outlets, and restaurant options suitable for travellers and crew. On-site dining within the general aviation terminal is limited, so most visitors head to the broader Essendon Fields shopping area for a wider selection. Moonee Ponds, a short drive away, offers a strong local dining scene with cafes, bistros, and multicultural restaurants.
- Confirm your operator's exact terminal or FBO location before arrival, as the precinct is spread across a large site.
- Parking is generally accessible and less stressful than at Melbourne's main international airport at Tullamarine.
- The Essendon Fields DFO outlet centre is on-site, useful for last-minute shopping before or after a flight.
- Check weather conditions as Essendon can experience low morning fog that occasionally affects light aircraft operations.
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Essendon Fields Airport is a 305 ha public airport located in the north western suburb of Essendon Fields, approximately 11 kilometres northwest of Melbourne's central business district. The airport occupies approximately 305 hectares and is Melbourne's second largest airport and the closest to the city's centre. From its earliest use in 1921 until 1970 it served as Melbourne's primary international airport, but was replaced by Tullamarine Airport.
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