Why is there so much aircraft noise around Melbourne Airport?

Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine, YMML) is Australia's second-busiest airport with around 250,000 aircraft movements per year — and unlike Sydney, it operates 24 hours a day with no curfew. That means commercial jet noise continues through the overnight period, particularly freight flights between 11 PM and 6 AM. Suburbs in the main runway corridors (Keilor, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Greenvale, Bulla) get sustained jet overflight day and night.

Which Melbourne Airport neighborhoods are quietest?

Brunswick, Coburg, Craigieburn and Melton sit outside the primary runway corridors and catch only occasional overflight at higher altitudes. The "inner north" suburbs of Melbourne are mostly dominated by road and tram noise — aircraft are a secondary consideration. The further south-east of the airport you go (toward the CBD and beyond), the less aircraft noise matters relative to other urban sources.

Is Keilor loud from planes?

Yes — Keilor is one of the most consistently affected suburbs for aircraft noise in greater Melbourne. It sits directly under the southern approach and departure path for runway 16/34, which is the airport's primary north-south runway and handles the majority of jet traffic. Overflight altitude is low (~1500-3000 ft) and includes overnight freight operations. Drop a pin on the map above to see your exact address.

What aircraft does the noise come from at Melbourne Airport?

A mix of widebody international jets (Boeing 777, 787, A380, A330), narrowbody domestic jets (Boeing 737, A320 family), and regional turboprops (Dash 8). Overnight noise is dominated by freight aircraft — FedEx, DHL, Australian Air Express — which are often older, louder narrowbodies (737 Classics, 757s). The morning departure bank (6-8 AM) and evening arrival bank (5-8 PM) are the loudest predictable windows.

How does Melbourne Airport noise compare to Sydney or Brisbane?

Sydney is louder per event (more widebodies, lower altitudes due to Sydney's tight geography) but has a strict 11 PM – 6 AM curfew that gives residents a guaranteed quiet window. Brisbane operates 24/7 like Melbourne but most overnight movements are over water on the new runway, so residential impact is lower. Melbourne's combination of high volume + no curfew + overland approaches makes it the heaviest sustained-impact major airport in Australia for residents in the corridors.

Which runway does Melbourne Airport use?

Melbourne has two runways arranged as a cross — runway 16/34 (north-south, 3,657 m, the main runway handling international widebodies) and runway 09/27 (east-west, 2,286 m, mainly used for shorter domestic flights and crosswinds). On most days the airport runs 16/34 in both directions based on wind, with 09/27 picking up additional capacity in peak periods. A planned third parallel runway will eventually change this pattern but is still years away.

Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?

Melbourne's commercial fleet has near-100% ADS-B coverage — all jets and most turboprops broadcast their position continuously, so the heatmap and route density layers reflect actual traffic accurately. The only gap is a small amount of general aviation traffic (light aircraft training and private flights) that may not be ADS-B-equipped; for that traffic see the Moorabbin Airport page on this site.

Should I avoid Keilor or Tullamarine if I work from home?

If aircraft noise during business hours is your main concern, yes — Keilor, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Greenvale and Bulla are all consistently affected, with frequent low-altitude overflight all day. Niddrie, Airport West, Essendon and Pascoe Vale catch arrival traffic but at higher altitudes — manageable in a closed-window office. If overnight noise matters (sleep quality, kids), avoid the corridor suburbs entirely; the 24/7 operations mean freight aircraft will wake you regularly.

Melbourne Flight Path Noise Map – Melbourne Airport (MEL)

Name: Aircraft noise observations near Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)
Creator: Flight Path Noise
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aircraft noise around Melbourne in October 2026

Loudest neighborhoods near Melbourne: Keilor, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Greenvale. Quietest: Brunswick, Coburg, Craigieburn, Melton. Busiest around 11 AM local time averaging 818 flights/day. Source: Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 30 days to 2026-10-09.

Flights by hour · last 30 days

12a6a12p6p

Average daily traffic

818

flights / day · 24,529 total

Busiest hour

11 AM

peak 95 dB

Loudest hour

11 AM

peak 95 dB

Loudest residential area

Bulla

67 dB avg · ~666 flights/day · Busy road

Rural-edge suburb directly under the northern departure corridor; no buffer between you and climbing jets

Does Melbourne Airport have a curfew?

No — Melbourne has no formal curfew.

Melbourne Airport is one of Australia’s only major airports with no operating curfew, in contrast to Sydney’s strict 11 PM – 6 AM curfew. This is a deliberate policy decision; the airport markets 24/7 capacity to freight operators and overnight passenger flights. The trade-off is sustained overnight noise impact for residents in the corridors, especially Keilor, Tullamarine and Greenvale.

Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine, YMML) is Australia’s second-busiest airport and one of the only major hubs in the country to operate 24 hours a day with no curfew. That single fact dominates the noise picture: residents in the main runway corridors get sustained jet overflight not just during the day, but through the night — particularly freight operations between 11 PM and 6 AM that would be banned at Sydney. This page combines live ADS-B tracking with notes on which suburbs sit under the corridors.

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

YMML has two runways arranged in a cross: 16/34 (3,657 m north-south, the main runway handling widebody international traffic) and 09/27 (2,286 m east-west, used for additional capacity and crosswinds). Most jet movements use 16/34, which means the heaviest noise impact runs in a north-south band immediately east of the airport.

Area	Aircraft noise	Why
Keilor	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Directly under 16/34 approach + departure paths
Tullamarine	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Airport-adjacent; every 27 departure passes low overhead
Gladstone Park	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Under climb-out for runway 27
Westmeadows	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Closest residential to the threshold
Greenvale	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Under 16/34 north-end overflight, day and night
Bulla	✈︎✈︎✈︎	Northern departure corridor; no buffer
Niddrie	✈︎✈︎	Under arrivals from the south, ~2000 ft
Airport West	✈︎✈︎	Inside the southern arrival corridor
Essendon	✈︎✈︎	Arrivals at higher altitude; plus YMEN GA
Pascoe Vale	✈︎✈︎	Lateral noise from arrivals
Sunbury	✈︎✈︎	Under climb-out at ~5000-8000 ft
Brunswick	✈︎	Outside primary corridor
Coburg	✈︎	Inner-north; road noise dominates
Craigieburn	✈︎	East of the north-south corridor
Melton	✈︎	Well west; only occasional overflight

If aircraft noise is on your shortlist of livability concerns, the practical move at Melbourne is anywhere east of the Tullamarine Freeway in the inner-north suburbs, or well west of Sunbury. The corridor suburbs (Keilor, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Greenvale, Bulla) are the most consistently affected — and crucially, the 24/7 operations mean overnight freight flights will still affect sleep even when daytime impact would be tolerable.

Flight patterns and runway use

Melbourne uses runways based on wind. With prevailing northerlies (common in summer) the airport operates landings on runway 34 (arrivals from the south, climbing out over Niddrie / Essendon / Pascoe Vale before turning) and departures on runway 34 to the north (climbing out over Greenvale, Bulla, Sunbury). With southerlies (more common in winter) the operation flips: arrivals from the north over Greenvale, departures to the south over Keilor and Niddrie.

Runway 09/27 (east-west) is used in moderate cross-winds and during peak periods for additional capacity. Runway 27 departures climb east directly over Tullamarine, Gladstone Park and Westmeadows; runway 09 arrivals approach from the east over those same suburbs.

The route-density layer on the map above shows the cumulative pattern: bright corridors extending north (toward Greenvale, Bulla) and south (toward Keilor, Niddrie, Essendon) from the main 16/34 runway, plus a secondary east-west band from 09/27. The far-field density tails off as aircraft climb to cruise altitude.

When is it quietest?

Unlike Sydney’s curfew-shaped noise pattern, Melbourne’s noise is continuous with peaks rather than off-on:

Morning departure bank (6 AM – 8 AM): peak. Domestic morning rush — back-to-back 737/A320 departures every 60-90 seconds.
Evening arrival bank (5 PM – 8 PM): peak. International long-haul arrivals stacked, plus domestic returns.
Midday (10 AM – 3 PM): moderate, sustained.
Late evening (9 PM – 11 PM): tapers but still active — international departures to Asia and Europe.
Overnight (11 PM – 6 AM): freight operations continue. Most noticeable in the corridor suburbs. Quieter than daytime but never fully silent. This is the defining noise characteristic of Tullamarine vs. Sydney.

Wet weather has a smaller impact than at GA airports — commercial operations continue in IMC. The main quietening factors are wind direction (changing which corridor is hot) and the natural overnight trough between roughly 1 AM and 4 AM.

For your specific address, drop a pin on the map above to see the hourly profile.

A note on the third runway and future operations

Melbourne Airport has a long-running proposal for a third parallel runway (16L/34R) to the west of the existing 16/34. If built, it would meaningfully change the noise distribution — concentrating some traffic further west into less-built-up land but adding new overflight for parts of Keilor and Bulla. The project is still in planning and approval phases; construction timelines have slipped repeatedly. The route-density layer on this map reflects current two-runway operations only.

How to check noise at your specific address

The map above is the answer to “is this spot loud?” Three steps:

Search your address or postcode in the bar at the bottom of the map.
Drop a pin — click the location marker that appears.
Read the noise report that opens in the sidebar: average daily noise (Leq), peak observed dB, flights per day passing within 2 km, and an hourly breakdown — including overnight hours, which is where Tullamarine differs most from curfewed airports.

Prefer suburb-level answers? The suburb & postcode noise guide further down this page ranks every measured suburb, searchable by name or postcode.

The Noise Heatmap layer (orange/red = louder) and the Route Density layer (purple/magenta = busier flight corridors) make the runway pattern obvious. Most addresses outside Keilor, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Greenvale and Bulla will land in the green/quiet zone for daytime noise — but check the overnight tab if sleep matters to you.

Suburb & postcode noise guide

Suburbs overflown by Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) traffic, ranked by this airport's share (rolling window to 2026-08-21). Each page shows the full picture across every airport and low-flying aircraft in the area.

Suburb	From Melbourne / day	All sources / day	Area rank
Bulla (3428)	242	249	#1
Oaklands Junction (3063)	190	208	#2
Clarkefield (3430)	189	194	#3
Diggers Rest (3427)	147	153	#4
Wildwood (3429)	121	131	#5
Keilor Park (3042)	96	96	#7
Keilor East (3033)	92	97	#6
Avondale Heights (3034)	88	95	#8
Bolinda (3432)	84	84	#10
Braybrook (3019)	83	88	#9
Mickleham (3064)	81	81	#11
Keilor (3036)	72	76	#14
West Footscray (3012)	72	75	#15
Attwood (3049)	70	70	#17
Truganina (3029)	70	80	#12
Yarraville (3013)	70	76	#13
Lalor (3075)	68	74	#16
Monegeetta (3433)	63	63	#19
Altona North (3025)	62	68	#18
Campbellfield (3061)	58	62	#20
Plumpton (3335)	54	54	#22
Dallas (3047)	53	56	#21
Westmeadows (3049)	48	50	#25
Darraweit Guim (3756)	48	48	#27
Ravenhall (3023)	46	46	#28
Caroline Springs (3023)	46	46	#29
Greenvale (3059)	45	45	#31
Laverton North (3026)	45	49	#26
Wollert (3750)	44	45	#30
Fraser Rise (3336)	42	42	#34
Epping (3076)	40	43	#33
Mill Park (3082)	35	36	#38
Thomastown (3074)	27	30	#41
Port Melbourne (3207)	26	38	#35
Craigieburn (3064)	26	26	#47
Templestowe (3106)	25	27	#45
Spotswood (3015)	24	29	#42
Plenty (3090)	23	23	#54
Richmond (3121)	22	25	#50
Lower Plenty (3093)	22	24	#52
Mount Cottrell (3024)	21	30	#40
Bonnie Brook (3335)	20	20	#59
Diamond Creek (3089)	20	20	#61
Kew (3101)	20	21	#58
Bulleen (3105)	18	20	#60
Kew East (3102)	18	18	#64
Tarneit (3029)	15	25	#48
Wattle Glen (3096)	14	14	#73
Southbank (3006)	14	14	#74
Melbourne (3000, 3004)	14	23	#53
Docklands (3008)	14	19	#62
Eynesbury (3338)	13	22	#56
Bundoora (3083)	12	16	#67
East Melbourne (3002)	12	17	#65
South Morang (3752)	12	12	#79
Sunshine North (3020)	11	11	#84
Greensborough (3088)	10	10	#86
Broadmeadows (3047)	9	11	#83
Newport (3015)	9	12	#78
Deer Park (3023)	9	9	#95
Coolaroo (3048)	8	8	#97
South Kingsville (3015)	8	8	#104
St Albans (3021)	7	7	#112
Watsonia (3087)	6	6	#117
Cairnlea (3023)	6	6	#118
Hawthorn (3122)	6	8	#105
South Wharf (3006)	5	5	#127
Williamstown (3016)	4	13	#76
Yallambie (3085)	4	7	#108
Altona (3018)	4	15	#71
Altona Meadows (3028)	2	8	#102
Reservoir (3073)	2	7	#107
Pascoe Vale (3044)	2	11	#81
Point Cook (3030)	2	34	#39
Hoppers Crossing (3029)	2	7	#114
Laverton (3028)	2	9	#94
Albert Park (3206)	1	10	#89
Williams Landing (3027)	1	6	#120
Essendon (3040)	1	15	#72
Coburg North (3058)	1	7	#115
Strathmore (3041)	1	10	#91

Frequently asked questions

Why is there so much aircraft noise around Melbourne Airport?: Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine, YMML) is Australia's second-busiest airport with around 250,000 aircraft movements per year — and unlike Sydney, it operates 24 hours a day with no curfew. That means commercial jet noise continues through the overnight period, particularly freight flights between 11 PM and 6 AM. Suburbs in the main runway corridors (Keilor, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Greenvale, Bulla) get sustained jet overflight day and night.
Which Melbourne Airport neighborhoods are quietest?: Brunswick, Coburg, Craigieburn and Melton sit outside the primary runway corridors and catch only occasional overflight at higher altitudes. The "inner north" suburbs of Melbourne are mostly dominated by road and tram noise — aircraft are a secondary consideration. The further south-east of the airport you go (toward the CBD and beyond), the less aircraft noise matters relative to other urban sources.
Is Keilor loud from planes?: Yes — Keilor is one of the most consistently affected suburbs for aircraft noise in greater Melbourne. It sits directly under the southern approach and departure path for runway 16/34, which is the airport's primary north-south runway and handles the majority of jet traffic. Overflight altitude is low (~1500-3000 ft) and includes overnight freight operations. Drop a pin on the map above to see your exact address.
What aircraft does the noise come from at Melbourne Airport?: A mix of widebody international jets (Boeing 777, 787, A380, A330), narrowbody domestic jets (Boeing 737, A320 family), and regional turboprops (Dash 8). Overnight noise is dominated by freight aircraft — FedEx, DHL, Australian Air Express — which are often older, louder narrowbodies (737 Classics, 757s). The morning departure bank (6-8 AM) and evening arrival bank (5-8 PM) are the loudest predictable windows.
How does Melbourne Airport noise compare to Sydney or Brisbane?: Sydney is louder per event (more widebodies, lower altitudes due to Sydney's tight geography) but has a strict 11 PM – 6 AM curfew that gives residents a guaranteed quiet window. Brisbane operates 24/7 like Melbourne but most overnight movements are over water on the new runway, so residential impact is lower. Melbourne's combination of high volume + no curfew + overland approaches makes it the heaviest sustained-impact major airport in Australia for residents in the corridors.
Which runway does Melbourne Airport use?: Melbourne has two runways arranged as a cross — runway 16/34 (north-south, 3,657 m, the main runway handling international widebodies) and runway 09/27 (east-west, 2,286 m, mainly used for shorter domestic flights and crosswinds). On most days the airport runs 16/34 in both directions based on wind, with 09/27 picking up additional capacity in peak periods. A planned third parallel runway will eventually change this pattern but is still years away.
Does coverage on this map include all aircraft?: Melbourne's commercial fleet has near-100% ADS-B coverage — all jets and most turboprops broadcast their position continuously, so the heatmap and route density layers reflect actual traffic accurately. The only gap is a small amount of general aviation traffic (light aircraft training and private flights) that may not be ADS-B-equipped; for that traffic see the Moorabbin Airport page on this site.
Should I avoid Keilor or Tullamarine if I work from home?: If aircraft noise during business hours is your main concern, yes — Keilor, Tullamarine, Gladstone Park, Westmeadows, Greenvale and Bulla are all consistently affected, with frequent low-altitude overflight all day. Niddrie, Airport West, Essendon and Pascoe Vale catch arrival traffic but at higher altitudes — manageable in a closed-window office. If overnight noise matters (sleep quality, kids), avoid the corridor suburbs entirely; the 24/7 operations mean freight aircraft will wake you regularly.

Sources and further reading

Melbourne Airport — Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Melbourne Airport noise abatement and flight paths — Melbourne Airport (APAM)
Airservices Australia — Noise Complaints and Information Service — Airservices Australia
Hume City Council aircraft noise information — Hume City Council

Data updated 2026-10-09 — live ADS-B monitoring, rolling 30-day statistics (methodology). Article text revised 2026-05-22.

30 dB	Whisper
45 dB	Quiet residential
55 dB	Normal conversation
65 dB	Busy road
75 dB	Vacuum cleaner
85 dB	Heavy traffic
95 dB	Motorcycle nearby

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Melbourne Flight Path Noise Map – Melbourne Airport (MEL)

Aircraft noise around Melbourne in October 2026

Does Melbourne Airport have a curfew?

Which neighborhoods are quietest — and which aren’t

Flight patterns and runway use

When is it quietest?

A note on the third runway and future operations

How to check noise at your specific address

Suburb & postcode noise guide

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

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