SkyBus has announced that its Sunshine Express in Melbourne’s west is officially launched today, providing the suburbs and regional Victoria with a direct and affordable connection to Melbourne Airport.
The new service operates seven days a week with departures every 30 minutes, with the trip taking approximately 30 minutes via the M80 Ring Road between Sunshine Station and the airport.
The Sunshine Express is the first SkyBus route in Melbourne to launch with a fully electric fleet, supporting Victoria’s climate commitments and providing quieter, greener transport for airport commuters.
The service has also launched with a $9.99 introductory fare (T&Cs apply), with post-promotion adult fares to be set at $17 one-way or $29 return.
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SkyBus Melbourne general manager Audrey Speziale says the launch delivers on strong community demand for direct airport transport.
“We’ve heard from Sunshine residents about the need for direct airport transport, and we’re thrilled to see such strong demand from the local community,” she says.
“The Sunshine Express provides an affordable, sustainable transport option that connects Melbourne’s west directly to the airport, whilst offering connections for V/Line passengers from Geelong, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Ararat.”
Recent research commissioned by SkyBus showed 89 per cent of Sunshine residents indicated they would use the service, alongside strong uptake intentions from Ballarat (54.1 per cent) and Geelong (36.9 per cent) residents.
On top of the introductory fares, family fares offer free travel for up to four children travelling with paying adults.
Brimbank Mayor Cr Thuy Dang says thanks to the SkyBus Sunshine Express, people in the west can now travel to Melbourne Airport without having to go all the way into the city first.
“This is going to make getting to and from the airport quicker and more convenient,” she says.
“This is a great development for the City of Brimbank and means more people will get to experience Sunshine on their way to and from the airport.”
The Sunshine Express joins SkyBus’ Eastern Express service (which launched August 31) and existing Melbourne City Express, Peninsula Express and Avalon City Express services, creating a comprehensive network of airport connections across Melbourne.
SkyBus has committed to full fleet electrification across all Melbourne services by 2031. Tickets and timetables are available at www.skybus.com.au.
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