Sydney Airport now has fixed flat-rate $60 taxi fares
Taxi fares between the airport and the CBD will be capped for the next 18 months.
By David Flynn, November 3 2025
Pretty much every Executive Traveller reader has been stung by The Great Sydney Taxi Rip-Off, especially on trips to and from the airport.
It’s one reason why the transparent up-front pricing of Uber and other ride-share services have become popular with travellers.
But from today, November 3, Sydney Airport will join several other major cities around the world with the introduction of fixed $60 fares to the Sydney CBD – a route which has seen many travellers slugged by a bill of $100 or more for the same 13km trip.
Larger ‘Maxi Taxi’ vans, often shared by several travellers with a lot of luggage between them, will have their fare capped at $80.
Road tolls and airport access fees will be included in the fixed fare, and not passed on to passengers.
The specific areas of the Sydney CBD covered by the flat-rate taxi fare is bound by
- Haymarket to the south
- Darling Harbour to the west
- the edge of The Domain and The Royal Botanic Gardens to the east, and
- the edge of Sydney Harbour itself to the north, including Barangaroo, Millers Points and The Rocks
However, the fixed taxi fare applies only to rides from the airport to the CBD, not the other way around.
The flat-rate fare will be locked in for the next 18 months in a trial which aims to make travel simpler and more predictable for passengers.
If successful, it will become a permanent feature.
The flat rate does not apply to rideshare operators such as Uber and DiDi.
An estimated 5,000 taxis a day queue to pick up visitors from Sydney’s international and domestic terminals.
Other cities around the world which have adopted flat-rate fares from the airport include London, New York and Paris.
However, the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), which recommended the change, chose not to propose extending the taxi fare cap to other key destinations such as North Sydney, Manly, Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park.
As previously reported, Melbourne Airport is also rolling out fixed-price taxi fares, but using kiosks 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.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Feb 2017
Total posts 7
So for a $5 hire charge plus $2.56 per km x13 comes to a $33.28 . And people wonder why taxi’s have a reputation for ripping people off!
Maximum Fares in Urban Areas - https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2025/Point-to-Point-Transport-Fares-Order-June-2025.pdf
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Sep 2015
Total posts 39
You only have to stand outside on the ground floor at the Qantas terminal in Sydney to work out how much business the taxis are losing vs Uber. Last week at about 6.30pm at night there was easily 8 or 9 times more people waiting for an Uber than a taxi. Bringing a fixed rate in for taxis is one thing. Addressing their appalling behavior and highly questionable ethics is another. I will gladly take an Uber over a taxi unless I have no other choice plus you can earn a few Qantas points along the way
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Jun 2018
Total posts 16
OK if your destination is the CBD (postcode 2000), but of little relevance for elsewhere in the "city". Paris has different rates depending on whether you are travelling to the right or left bank of the Seine (within the peripherique). Hopefully, if the trial is a success, it will be extended to other parts of the city of Sydney. However, unauthorised cabs still prey on unsuspecting tourists at CDG, so beware!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jun 2017
Total posts 97
Has been quite a few years since using taxis in Sydney and it will probably stay that way due to:
Scammed with multiple card charges over the same day to my credit card. Luckily fixed by my bank fraud department
Filthy taxis and in a poor state of repair
Reluctance to accept short fares even when they have the ability to came back to the front of the line when returning quickly
Poor driver skills, speeding, talking on the phone causing distraction while driving, generally feeling unsafe!
10 Jul 2023
Total posts 8
Next thing they need to address are the shady touts hanging around the arrivals hall. It is a disgraceful introduction to the country for our international guests. I have seen it in Melbourne for a while but experienced it for the first time in Sydney last month.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Jul 2016
Total posts 2
Sydney airport to / from the city is only about $25 by train which is how I now take this journey.
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