Melbourne Airport adds free parking zone

Melbourne Airport has introduced a new short term parking area for drivers waiting to collect arriving passengers.

Drivers are meant to remain in the new ‘Ring and Ride’ zone until their arriving passenger calls to say they’re ready to be picked up, at which point drivers can proceed to the terminal forecourt.

Parking in the zone is free for the first 20 minutes and costs $2 for up to 40 minutes and $4 for up to an hour. The zone is located within the Long Term Car Park with entry through the two Long Term Car Park gates located on Terminal Drive and Centre Road.

Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said the zone was introduced based on customer feedback and growing concern about drivers parking illegally on the Tullamarine Freeway and other roads while waiting for passengers.

“This also led to congestion in our terminal forecourt as drivers did repeated laps while they waited to pick up their passengers,” Woodruff said. “Now, drivers can use the ‘Ring & Ride’ waiting zone until their passenger calls to say they are ready to be picked up from the front of the terminal.”