MELBOURNE AIRPORT PARKING JUMPS 42% AS IT'S NAMED AUSTRALIA'S LEAST CONVENIENT
If you are planning to drive to the airport for your summer holiday, you might want to brace yourself, because airport parking prices have climbed sharply in most parts of the country.
Melbourne Airport has been named the least convenient major airport in Australia, after its average weekly parking cost jumped a whopping 42% in a year.
The findings come from comparison site iSelect's 2026 Airport Convenience Index, as reported by Travel Weekly.
How the airports were ranked
The index compared 11 Australian airports, scoring each one out of 10.
It looked at parking costs, transport costs, distance from the city centre, passenger numbers and how much parking was available.
The result is a handy snapshot of which airports make getting away easy, and which ones can leave you frazzled before you have even checked in.
Australia's most convenient airports
Cairns took the top spot with a score of 7.78.
It is just 5.7km from the city centre, the shortest distance of any airport in the index, and its parking and transport costs did not change at all.
Darwin came second with 7.11, followed by Canberra in third place with 6.56.
The airports at the bottom of the list
At the other end of the ranking, Melbourne came last with a score of just 2.44.
Brisbane was second-last on 3.11, while the Gold Coast was third-last with 3.67.
Melbourne's average weekly parking cost hit $412, the largest increase in the study and the highest price recorded.
Sydney was the second most expensive at an average of $323 a week, but it was also the only airport where parking actually got cheaper, falling by 6%.
Airport parking prices are rising almost everywhere
Eight of the 11 airports in the index recorded higher parking prices than last year.
Perth was up 16%, Adelaide rose 13%, the Gold Coast climbed 9%, Townsville increased 8% and Brisbane went up 7%.
If you prefer to leave the car at home, transport costs vary too.
Brisbane had the highest combined cost for public transport and a taxi, at $48.03.
The Gold Coast, meanwhile, recorded the biggest growth in passengers, up 8% to around 17,682 people a day.
What about Western Sydney International?
Sydney's brand new airport was not included in the main index because there was not enough comparable data yet.
However, iSelect did run an early comparison for travellers weighing up their options.
Average weekly parking at Western Sydney International was $179.75, with more than 6,000 car parks available.
The catch is the distance, because it is about 60km from the Sydney CBD compared with 11.8km for Sydney Airport.
The average taxi or shuttle fare from the city was $111, compared with $31.53 for the Sydney Airport options assessed.
Adrian Bennett from iSelect said "it can be worth thinking about the journey to the airport before departure day".
Simple ways to save on your trip to the airport
With the Christmas getaway only weeks away, a little planning could leave more money for the fun part of your holiday.
Book your parking online well before you fly, as booking ahead can often work out cheaper than simply driving up on the day.
Compare the official car parks with nearby off-airport operators, some of which include a shuttle to the terminal.
Check whether a train, bus or airport shuttle could work for your trip, especially if you are travelling light.
If you are going away for more than a few days, a lift from a friend or family member may well be the cheapest option of all.
Travelling as a family or group can make a taxi or rideshare better value when the cost is shared.
Finally, allow plenty of extra time during the busy summer holidays, because queues for parking and security tend to grow.
You can see more about the index on the iSelect website.
A little forward planning now could mean a calmer, cheaper start to your summer escape.
