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Are you planning your next trip to Australia? Or are you an Aussie that’s ready to pack up your bags and explore the country or even the world? Either way, when you plan on traveling, often the quickest way to get around is by flying. Flying allows you to get places quite quickly. However, it doesn’t always mean that it will be an efficient travel decision. After all, there are many airports today that are running decades behind while others are the epitome of modernism. Our travel experiences often shape how much we enjoy our vacations and trips. That’s why we have decided to put together an ultimate list of the best-to-worst places to fly in Australia.
Thanks to our list, you can have a better understanding of which airports in Australia are worth flying into and which ones you may want to avoid if you can. Additionally, this can also help you prepare mentally if you know you’re going to be flying in and out of an airport that isn’t the most efficient!
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Our list begins with the second busiest airport in Australia, Melbourne International Airport. This airport is also known colloquially as Tullamarine Airport. According to the Skytrax 2023 World Airport Awards, they ranked Melbourne International is the number one airport in the Australia/Pacific region of the globe. This airport happens to be a hub for many international airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Cathay Pacific. It should come as no surprise then to find out that this airport serves over 35 million travelers per year.
One of the biggest compliments that this airport often gets is how tidy and clean the interior is kept. There are four terminals at this airport, and there are both airport lounges and other excellent facilities to take advantage of. Additionally, there are many hotels that are within walking distance of the airport, including the Hilton and Holiday Inn. This is often quite convenient for many international travelers. Overall, this is definitely a great airport if you’re looking to fly either domestically or internationally.
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Ranked second on our list is Sydney Airport, which happens to be the busiest airport in all of Australia. However, outside of being the busiest, it is also the oldest continuously operating commercial airport in the world. As the largest airport in the country, it continues to be a key hub for both international and domestic travel. At this airport, you’ll find three different terminals along with great facilities, business and first-class lounges, and different restaurants to choose from. It is also located a convenient distance from the Sydney central business district.
Every year, this airport sees around 43 million travelers, and it is a hub for many major airlines. Some of the airlines that call Sydney Airport “home” include Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia. Additionally, the airport continues to work on expanding the space in order to better serve all of its travelers. However, no airport is perfect, and Sydney, of course, has its downsides. Many travelers complain that the security queues are incredibly long and inefficiently structurally — so come prepared!
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The Brisbane Airport is another major airport in the country and serves over 20 million travelers per year. The airport serves both Brisbane and South East Queensland, and there are 31 different airlines that fly out of here. What makes this airport so great is that it has an excellent selection of dining options as well as lots of natural light that comes into the international terminal. Outside of domestic travel, the airport is also used for military transportation purposes.
Brisbane Airport has also received a lot of recognition thanks to how friendly its airport staff is. The airport is also conveniently located as it is not a far distance from the central business district. As far as downsides go, most of the complaints about the airport happen to be in regard to the customs lines. Many find that their arrival experience has been subpar because of this.
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Next on our list is Adelaide International Airport, which happens to be the largest airport in the state of South Australia. It is also the fifth busiest airport in the country. Throughout the years, this airport has won several awards for being one of the best in the world. What makes this airport stand out is how many great restaurants, shopping options, and high-end stores it has. Additionally, it also has easily accessible public transport facilities as well as car rental within the actual airport.
The airport also has plenty of space to sit and unwind before your flight. There is also free Wi-Fi available along with charging ports if you need to charge one or more of your devices. Overall, this airport has a pretty well-thought-out passenger flow and layout, and many people enjoy traveling through this spot. However, the airport is much smaller compared to many other international airports. This means that lines can build up more quickly here — especially during the holidays.
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Next on our list is Perth International Airport, which happens to be the fourth busiest airport in the country. The city of Perth happens to be the capital city of Western Australia. Geographically speaking, Western Australia is the farthest from all of the other major cities in the country. This is why Perth International Airport is so important because it allows travelers to reach other major cities in the country with ease. Outside of being so important geographically, since the airport is all the way to the western part of the country, it is much closer to Asia. This often means that flights to Asia and the Pacific region are cheaper when booked from here.
The airport also has great facilities, including duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, and lounges. There are also great transportation systems such as buses, taxis, and trains. One of the biggest complaints with this airport is that it takes forever for the luggage to come out onto the carousels. Some people have complained that it has taken hours for the luggage to arrive.
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The Gold Coast Airport, also known as the Coolangatta Airport, has nearly 420 international and domestic flights that fly out of it every week. At this airport, you’ll find business professionals, occasional travelers, and more. One of the biggest reasons that this airport is at the end of our list is that it is definitely one of the smaller airports. Even though it is an international airport, everything is laid out on one level with a pretty cramped check-in area. However, many people do like the shops that are available in the airport as they have a local feel to them. There is also free Wi-Fi throughout the airport, along with live music once a week in the department’s lounge. Overall, this isn’t the most lavish airport that you can fly into in Australia.
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The marble fox is not a naturally occurring variant; it was created through artificial selection.
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