MEL to SYD: Distance and Flight Time
The distance from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) is 706 km (438 mi). A typical nonstop flight covers it in about 1h 25m, heading northeast. The distance is the same in either direction (SYD to MEL).
How far is it from Melbourne to Sydney (Mascot)?
The great-circle distance between Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) is 706 km (438 mi, 381 nautical miles). That is the straight-line distance; a real flight is a little longer because of air-traffic routing.
How long is the flight from MEL to SYD?
A nonstop flight typically takes about 1h 25m. This is an estimate from the distance; actual block times depend on the aircraft, winds and the exact routing. SYD is roughly northeast of MEL.
How is the MEL to SYD route written in code?
The pair is written MEL-SYD in IATA codes and YMML-YSSY in ICAO codes, the form used on a flight plan. Melbourne Airport is MEL (YMML), Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is SYD (YSSY).
| MEL | SYD | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Melbourne Airport | Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport |
| ICAO code | YMML | YSSY |
| Country | Australia | Australia |
| Elevation | 434 ft | 21 ft |
| Rank by connections | #120 | #65 |
Both ICAO codes start with Y, the prefix ICAO assigns to Australia, so this is a route inside one ICAO region. How ICAO prefixes are laid out.
SYD sits 413 ft (126 m) lower than MEL, which is a real difference in air density on takeoff.
Airlines flying MEL to SYD
6 airlines appear on this route in the open route dataset, 6 of them still listed as active. Each row gives the IATA code, the ICAO code and the radio callsign, which is what an air traffic controller hears:
| IATA | Airline | ICAO | Callsign | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA | American Airlines | AAL | American | Active |
| AI | Air India Limited | AIC | Airindia | Active |
| JQ | Jetstar Airways | JST | Jetstar | Active |
| QF | Qantas | QFA | Qantas | Active |
| TT | Tiger Airways Australia | TGW | Go Cat | Active |
| UA | United Airlines | UAL | United | Active |
A further 1 carrier sell this pair as a codeshare without operating it: VA.
Route and carrier data comes from the OpenFlights open dataset, regenerated here on . It is a historical snapshot of scheduled connections, not a live schedule, and it includes codeshare listings, so some carriers shown may no longer operate the route or exist. How we build this · Data and sources.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Melbourne from Sydney (Mascot)?
Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) are 706 km (438 mi, 381 nautical miles) apart in a straight line.
How long is the flight from MEL to SYD?
A typical nonstop flight between MEL and SYD takes about 1h 25m. Actual times vary with aircraft type, winds and routing.
What direction is SYD from MEL?
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) lies roughly northeast of Melbourne Airport (MEL).
Which airlines fly MEL to SYD?
6 airlines appear on the MEL-SYD route in the open dataset, including American Airlines, Air India Limited, Jetstar Airways.
Related routes
Other routes from Melbourne (MEL):
Other routes from Sydney (Mascot) (SYD):
MEL airport code · SYD airport code · Busiest airports worldwide