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_(cropped).jpg) Bustech CDi in September 2023 | |
| Parent | Kinetic Group (majority owned byOPTrust) |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 1978 (1978-06) |
| Headquarters | Melbourne Airport |
| Service area | Melbourne Hobart Sydney Perth |
| Service type | Airport bus |
| Hubs | Avalon Airport Melbourne Airport Hobart Airport Sydney Airport Perth Airport |
| Fleet | 104 (June 2022) |
| Chief executive | Michael Sewards |
| Website | www.skybus.com.au www.skybus.co.nz |
SkyBus is anairport bus service operating in Australia inMelbourne,Hobart,Sydney andPerth.
In Melbourne, SkyBus carries over 2 million passengers per year and 8.3% of all Melbourne Airport passengers.[1]
SkyBus commenced operations on 6 June 1978, running a shuttle service betweenMelbourne Airport and theMelbourne city centre. On 2 August 1982, SkyBus took over the airport bus services run by the now-defunct airlinesAnsett andTAA.[2][3]
Until November 2000, the Melbourne city centre terminus was at a coach depot in Franklin Street. It would pick up passengers at the thenSpencer Street station and various city hotels before continuing on to the airport. In November 2000, SkyBus relocated to Spencer Street station with services operating express to the airport, cutting the journey time to 20 minutes and allowing more services to be introduced. Connecting minibuses were introduced to continue the hotel transfer/pickup service.[4]
In 2002, theGovernment of Victoria opted to contribute $3 million to a $10 million plan to expand and improve SkyBus services, after a feasibility study into a city toairport rail link found the service would not be viable. The initiative funded the purchase of new buses, and improvements to theTullamarine Freeway, to give SkyBus vehicles priority in traffic.[5] The operation has an audited revenue share arrangement with the Victorian Government.[6]
In August 2008, the SkyBus contract was renewed for five years. In 2007 SkyBus' patronage grew by 17% over the previous year, to 1.6 million passengers, with estimated revenue of $24 million.[7]
Proposals to improve the bus service involving turning emergency lanes into bus lanes on the freeway and the Bolte Bridge and putting SkyBus on aMyki fare, were challenged byCityLink operatorTransurban, because it would limit its toll revenue, and byMelbourne Airport, because it would reduce its car parking profits.[8] Both facilities were privatised in the 1990s.
In September 2014, SkyBus was purchased by a consortium that included Catalyst Direct Capital Management andOPTrust Private Markets Group.[9] The consortium would later be known as AATS Group (known asKinetic Group since August 2019).[10] In 2015, SkyBus purchased theAuckland Airport service in New Zealand from Johnston's Coachlines.[11] In June 2016, SkyBus commenced operating toFrankston with the purchase of the Frankston & Peninsula Airport Shuttle.[12][13]
In February 2017, SkyBus took over the route between Southern Cross station andAvalon Airport previously run bySita Buslines.[14][15] In July 2017, it began operating theGeelong to Avalon Airport service after the previous owners, Murrel Group, lost their accreditation to enter the airport.[16] In November 2017, SkyBus Gold Coast operations commenced inGold Coast,Queensland with the purchase of the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle (GCTS) business fromSurfside Buslines.[17][18]
The Avalon City Express service operates betweenAvalon Airport andSouthern Cross railway station via thePrinces Freeway andWest Gate Freeway, making a stop inWerribee. The service operates to a timetable that is adjusted monthly, with one service connecting to every flight departing and arriving at Avalon Airport.
In July 2018, SkyBus commenced services between theHobart central business district andHobart Airport.[19][20]
In September 2025, SkyBus commenced services between theSydney central business district andSydney Airport.[21]
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TheMelbourne City Express is SkyBus's flagship service. It operates betweenMelbourne Airport inTullamarine andSouthern Cross railway station on the western edge of theMelbourne city centre, via theTullamarine Freeway andCityLink, with no intermediate stops. At Melbourne Airport, SkyBus stops for pick up and drop off at Terminals 1 and 3, and also picks up at Terminal 4. Terminals 2 and 4 are within walking distance from the Terminal 3 stop.
The service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to a 10-minute frequency between 6:00 am and 12:00 am (midnight), subject to traffic conditions. The service operates to a 30-minute frequency between 1:00 am and 4:30 am, and 15 to 30 minutes at all other times.[22]
SkyBus is not covered under theMyki ticketing system which services the rest of Melbourne. However, SkyBus allows the use of the access travel pass on all SkyBus services in Victoria only.[23] Proposals in January 2013 by theVictorian Government to integrate SkyBus ticketing with the Myki system were shelved after opposition fromTransurban and Melbourne Airport.[8]
ThePeninsula Express is a Frankston shuttle that operates between Terminal 1 and 4 ofMelbourne Airport andFrankston railway station. It makes intermediate stops atSt Kilda,Elwood,Elsternwick,Brighton,North Brighton railway station,Moorabbin,Westfield Southland,Parkdale,Mentone andChelsea.
TheEastern Express operates between Terminals 1 and 4 ofMelbourne Airport andBox Hill Central. It makes intermediate stops atWatsonia railway station andWestfield Doncaster.
While the service originally extended toCroydon railway station, with additional stops atBlackburn railway station andRingwood railway station,[24] this service was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service recommenced on 31 August, 2025.[25]
TheSunshine Express began operations on the 9th of November 2025. The service runs express betweenSunshine Station in centralSunshine and Melbourne Airport.[26]V/Line train passengers along theGeelong andBallarat train lines are able to change to a SkyBus at Sunshine instead of having to travel the extra 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to catch the SkyBus in the Melbourne CBD.
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The Avalon Geelong Express service operated betweenAvalon Airport andSouth Geelong railway station, with an intermediate stop atGeelong railway station. The service began in July 2017. The service operated to a timetable that was adjusted monthly, with one service connecting to every flight departing and arriving at Avalon Airport. The service was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not resumed as of February 2024.
In December 2017, SkyBus launched airport shuttle services to theGold Coast Airport from various hotels.[27] From 16 September 2018, the Byron Bay Express commenced running services from Gold Coast Airport toByron Bay.[28] The services were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not resumed as of February 2024.
The Southbank Docklands Express operated between Terminal 4 ofMelbourne Airport and four designated stops inSouthbank, with an intermediate stop inDocklands. The service began in November 2017, operating to similar frequencies and hours as the St Kilda Express. Fares were identical to that of the Melbourne City Express service. The service was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not resumed as of February 2024.
The St Kilda Express service operated between Terminal 4 ofMelbourne Airport and four designated stops inSt Kilda, picking up and setting down passengers at these stops. Outbound passengers could also be picked up at Terminal 1.The service operated daily, including all public holidays, to a 30-minute frequency on weekdays and hourly on weekends. Operating hours are approximately between 6:30 am and 7:00 pm daily. Services were suspended in 2021, with the route later being subsumed into the Peninsula Express.[29]
The Western Express operated between Terminal 4 ofMelbourne Airport andWerribee, with an intermediate stop atTarneit railway station. Outbound passengers could also be picked up at Terminal 1. The service operated daily, including all public holidays, between 5:05 am and 8:35 pm daily. The service was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not resumed as of February 2024.
SkyBus operated services toAuckland Airport. Services were indefinitely suspended in 2021.[30][31]
The Auckland City Express operated between the airport and the SkyBus Lounge in theAuckland CBD, running via theSouthwestern Motorway, eitherDominion Road or Mount Eden Road, andQueen Street.[32]
The North Harbour Express service operated between the airport andAlbany (referred to by SkyBus as Albany Westfield because of the nearbyWestfield Albany shopping mall). Services ran along theNorthern Busway on theNorth Shore section of the route, stopping atSmales Farm andAkoranga stations.[33]
As at September 2023, the combined fleets consisted of 68 vehicles.[3][34]
Media related toSkybus Super Shuttle at Wikimedia Commons
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