Cairns has taken the top spot in iSelect's 2026 Airport Convenience Index, while Melbourne ranked last after a 42% rise in parking costs. The travel insurance comparison service ranked 11 major Australian airports on parking costs and availability, transport costs, distance to the CBD, passenger volumes and airport size.
Top ranked
- Cairns scored 7.78 out of 10. Its airport is 5.7km from the city centre, the shortest distance in the index. Average weekly parking is $176.67 and public transport and taxi costs average $20. Neither changed from last year.
- Darwin ranked second with a score of 7.11. Parking averages $163.17 and the bus to the city is free. Daily passengers rose 4% to about 5,296.
- Canberra ranked third. It has the lowest average transport cost at $14, and weekly parking is $197.25, up 4%.
Lowest ranked
- Melbourne ranked last with a score of 2.44. Average weekly parking is $412, the highest in the index. The airport is 22.1km from the CBD, and a single public transport ticket now costs $25.90. It handles about 100,722 passengers a day, up 3%.
- Brisbane ranked second-last with 3.11. Parking averages $234.89, up 7%, and transport costs average $48.03, the highest in the study. It has about 17,000 car parks and handles about 68,257 passengers a day.
- Gold Coast ranked third-last with 3.67. Parking averages $252.70, up 9%, and transport costs average $30.25. Passenger numbers rose 8%, the largest increase in the study, to about 17,682 a day.
Parking costs
Eight of the 11 airports recorded year-on-year parking increases. Cairns and Darwin were unchanged. Perth rose 16% to $221 and Adelaide rose 13% to $229. Townsville rose 8% to $192.25.
Sydney was the only airport where parking costs fell, down 6% to $323, due to cheaper advance bookings for some terminal car parks. It remains the second most expensive for parking because of its valet services.
Passenger numbers
Passenger numbers rose at most airports. Cairns and Canberra each fell 1%. Sydney remains the busiest at about 117,386 passengers a day, ahead of Melbourne and Brisbane.
Western Sydney International Airport
The airport opened in October 2026 but is not in the index because comparable data is lacking. It has more than 6,000 car parking spaces and average weekly parking of $179.75, compared with $323 at Sydney Airport.
It is about 60km from central Sydney, compared with 11.8km for Sydney Airport. iSelect found the average cost of taxi and shuttle options from the CBD was $111, against $31.53 for Sydney Airport.
iSelect said the index compares factors affecting traveller experience, not overall airport quality, and that larger airports serve different travel needs.
iSelect General Manager – General Insurance Adrian Bennett advised travellers to compare the cost of pre-booked parking with taxis, rideshare and public transport before departure day, particularly in busy travel periods.
"Holiday costs can quickly add up; it can be worth thinking about the journey to the airport before departure day," said Bennett, "Travellers could compare the cost of pre-booking airport parking with taxis, rideshare and public transport rather than automatically deciding on the day. Planning is especially important during busy travel periods, when extra passengers can mean more time getting through the airport. And while you're preparing for your trip, comparing travel insurance early can help ensure it's not forgotten among the other holiday arrangements."
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