Melbourne Airport launches fixed-price taxi fares
Launching as a trial program involving four large cab companies, the move will take the risk out of catching a taxi.
By David Flynn, October 20 2025
Melbourne Airport will trial fixed-price taxi bookings as it looks to stamp out rip-offs at the rank along with illegal taxi touts.
The move follows Sydney Airport’s adoption of flat-rate $60 taxi fares between the airport and the CBD.
Three kiosks are being installed at Melbourne’s T1 domestic Qantas terminal, where travellers will be able to enter their destination address, see a fare quoted up front and then pay that fixed price.
After receiving a printed or digital receipt showing that guaranteed price, travellers will be directed to a dedicated bay to meet their driver.
Silver Top, Black and White, 13cabs and Silver Service are all involved in the trial, which begins this Friday October 24.
“People shouldn’t have to haggle with a cabbie over a fare or their destination when they come to the airport, and this trial aims to eliminate that pain point,” says Jai McDermott, who heads Melbourne Airport’s ground transport, property and retail operations.
“Our hope is that this trial will add a sense of security and certainty to the process of catching a cab from the airport.”
McDermott also hopes the new booking system will deter taxi touts, who “rip off passengers and deprive honest drivers of work.”
At the time of writing, a mid-morning weekday taxi fare from the airport to the middle of the Melbourne CBD showed on the 13cabs website at around $80, while prices for Uber began at $55 for UberX and $65 for Uber Comfort.
Also read: Sydney Airport is getting flat-rate $60 taxi fares
15 Feb 2023
Total posts 11
HI time for another investigation of taxi services. I am at a loss as to why taxi services continue to operate. If taxi licenses were dropped or significantly reduced then maybe they could start operating under the ride share model. Of course there will always be rogue operators no mater what system. I certainly prefer an agreed fare before journey start.
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
16 Oct 2017
Total posts 177
Better than the current non-system at MEL, but not ideal. No way to know whether the machine quoted fare is based on dynamic pricing i.e. higher demand, higher cost. Sydney's flat $60 much more customer friendly.
08 May 2020
Total posts 67
Wouldn't hiring a security guard for six months solve this issue, i'm so confused
07 May 2015
Total posts 76
Absolutely agree. Touting is a problem at MEL, and it's also against the law, I read in another article that fines can be as high as $11,000! So isn't the simple and smart fix to hire somebody whose job would be to bust the touts and issue them fines? FFS, it's not rocket science. Hey MEL, if you're reading this, I would be happy to accept this job, I'll work different hours of the day and night so as to bust touts at all hours. Pay me $100k/year and at $11k per tout you'll have covered my wage with the first ten fines!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 860
The first ten (1) times? What will you do for the rest of the week? How about YOU get to pockets and keep fines each week from #11 onwards?
07 May 2015
Total posts 76
LOL great idea, MEL can pay me a more affordable $60k per year but give me a 10-20% commission on every fine, that will definitely 'incentivise' me!
09 Dec 2023
Total posts 10
Perhaps they should look at installing meters in taxis. 🙄
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
24 Jan 2019
Total posts 17
I’ve been using flat rate hire cars for years in Melbourne because the cab fares are so varied. Considering the state of traffic to and from Tullamarine this seems to penalise drivers. It’s great for travellers. But if my cabbie has to sit in Melbourne traffic jams he’s using fuel. I think there is a risk that cabs won’t service the airport at peak times.
We shall see.
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