Melbourne Airport, also known as Tullamarine Airport serves upwards of 24 million domestic travelers and more than 11 million international passengers. It has one budget terminal, two domestic terminals and one international terminal. This busy airport functions 24×7 and is spread across more than 6000 acres.
Tullamarine Airport: A Peek Into The Past
Until 1950, Melbourne was served by Essendon Airport which slowly began to become inadequate as the passenger traffic rose. Additionally, being an older structure, the runways were far too short to handle large modern jets. The terminals became cramped and inefficient due to lack of space to accommodate the increased flow of passengers. Since the surrounding areas had already become residential and commercial, expanding the airport was not an option.
The area known as Tullamarine was chosen to build the new airport. It consisted mainly of open, vacant land and some farmland with the main occupations being hay production and grazing of sheep and cattle. The Australian Commonwealth government purchased more than 5000 acres in Tullamarine to build a new airport. The airport was constructed and commissioned officially on July 1, 1970. Since then, the area has developed to some extent with aerospace businesses, sports centers and some industries having their locations in the surrounding areas.
In 1994, the airport was privatized and came under the management of the Australia Pacific Airports Corporation and is now a leased commonwealth airport.
Currently, there are several major construction and roadworks projects in the airport area. A third runway is being built to increase air traffic. The terminals are also being upgraded to put in more food courts and passenger amenities. Newer dedicated drop off and pick up zones are in the pipeline too. All these features can affect car parking time and space.
Car Parking At Tullamarine: A Backward Glance
Parking was available right from the time the airport was thrown open, as it was a purpose-built structure that incorporated these facilities. This was not an enclosed space, and offered only open-air parking. Two decades later, this parking area was deemed inadequate, less safe and not modern enough, and a multi-level parking area was constructed within the airport premises providing facilities for more than 3000 vehicles at a time.
In 1997, a private company Andrews Airport Parking launched operations at Tullamarine Airport. They initially offered 50 parking slots, and today their operations cover 10 acres of land located about 2.4 km away from the airport. Currently the company offers a plethora of services including airport transfers, hotel and cruise transfers, and car rental services apart from their core business of car parking.
By 2000, a six-storey hotel was constructed atop the car parking area to service travelers and transit passengers.
There are parking areas within the airport and off-site that you can choose from, based on your budget, preferences and needs.
Parking Options and Facilities Currently Available
Passengers who want to drive themselves to the airport, park there and pick up their vehicles on the return trip have a wide variety of options available to them. There are several private parking companies that operate within and at a short distance away from Tullamarine Airport.
If you choose to park inside the airport premises, you can choose a parking location close to Terminals 1, 2, 3 or at a short distance away from Terminal 4. The advantage of Terminal Parking is that it is perfect for short trips, pick-ups or drop-offs. With a convenient online booking facility, QR code payment and free parking for the first 15 minutes, this is an attractive choice.
You can also select from options such as Value parking, Valet parking, Meet and Greet, Self Parking and more. Hourly, daily, weekly and monthly rates are available.
Drivers and owners are assured of safety and security of their vehicles and themselves. Parking areas have 24×7 CCTV coverage and are manned by security personnel. Entry and exit is automated using state of the art technology, saving time and effort.
A large chunk of Melbourne Airport’s revenues come from parking. With many private parking companies providing services, the business has become more competitive.
Tips For A Safer Parking Experience
Reputed Parking Company: Make sure you select a well established, trustworthy parking company with a landline telephone and a street address that you can verify. Some companies who advertise online are only aggregators and may not bear any responsibilities in case of problems.
Check All Deals and Offers: Some deals appear too good to be true, and they probably are! Unless they are being offered by well known car parking companies, don’t be tempted to sign up. There are different types of scams going around, and you could fall prey to unsafe parking, theft, vandalism and more.
Advance Booking: Most good car parking companies have their own websites and social media presence. You can book your slot in advance to avoid last minute stress and confusion. Advance booking could also put you in line for good discounts, loyalty programs or extra privileges.
Compare Prices: There are several car parking websites that give you price comparison, daily rates and list of features available. Do your own research and get yourself the best possible option. Some websites offer coupons and last minute deals that can be quite attractive too such as car washing, meet and greet and valet parking.
Remain Connected: Though you may have booked in advance, it’s wiser to check for updates and messages regularly. If you have provided both phone and email details, make sure you check both often. Parking companies and airports provide information on congestion, traffic, blocks, roadworks and entry/exit delays.