London to Melbourne is one of the world’s great long-haul journeys, and there is no non-stop flight — every route stops once, most often in the Gulf or Asia. This guide covers the realistic one-stop options, what a fair return fare looks like in pounds, and how to pick the routing that best balances price, time and a comfortable break in the trip.
Route: London (LHR / LGW) → Melbourne, Tullamarine (MEL)
Distance: approximately 16,900 km (10,500 miles) great-circle
Typical journey time: about 22–24 hours with one stop
Direct flights: No — there are no non-stop London–Melbourne flights, and which hub you route through decides the price more than anything else. In our fare data the cheap connections went through China: Hainan via Haikou from £619, China Eastern via Shanghai from £652 and China Southern out of Gatwick via Guangzhou from £793. The Gulf routings were the dearest: Etihad £1,075–£1,317 and Qatar £1,112–£1,189.
Fares from London to Melbourne (GBP)
Melbourne is a year-round city, but fares swing hard with the Australian and UK holiday calendars. The Australian summer and Christmas peak (December–January) is by far the most expensive, along with the UK July–August school holidays; the cheapest fares fall in the southern-hemisphere autumn and winter (roughly February–May and October–November). The figures below are typical economy return fares in pounds; the lowest usually come from the Gulf and Asian carriers when they run a sale.
| Month | Demand | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | very high |
| February | — | medium |
| March | — | low-medium |
| April | — | medium (Easter) |
| May | — | low |
| June | — | low-medium |
| July | — | high (school holidays) |
| August | — | high |
| September | — | medium |
| October | — | low-medium |
| November | — | medium |
| December | — | very high (holidays) |
Checked against every return fare on sale as we write, a genuinely good return does land around £640–£760 — Hainan’s fares run £619–£777 with a median of £720, so that anchor is right. What is well off is the middle: the market median is £768, not £950, and the four-figure sums are what the Gulf carriers charge (£1,075 and up), not what the route costs. A return under about £700 is worth booking quickly. The December–January peak is in a class of its own.
Airlines on this route
Every option stops once. The Gulf and Asian carriers dominate on price and frequency:
- Emirates via Dubai — frequent, strong economy, from all three main London airports; among the most reliable one-stops.
- Qatar Airways via Doha — often the best-value fare and a well-timed connection to Melbourne.
- Singapore Airlines via Singapore — excellent service and a natural halfway break; British Airways also codeshares/serves this routing.
- Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong — another comfortable Asian routing, sometimes cheaper.
- Qantas via Perth — fly London–Perth non-stop, then a short domestic hop to Melbourne; useful if you want an Australian carrier throughout.
Because so many carriers compete, fares move a lot with sales. If comfort matters, Singapore Airlines and Qatar are perennial favourites; if price leads, watch Emirates, Qatar and the Asian carriers for promotions.
When to book & how to save
- Book 4–6 months ahead for the Christmas/January peak — it’s the busiest and priciest window of the year and sells out early.
- Travel in the shoulder months — February–May and October–November are the cheapest, and Melbourne’s autumn is mild and pleasant.
- Consider your stopover — a longer layover in Dubai, Doha or Singapore can break up the 24-hour journey and cost no more; some carriers offer stopover deals.
- Be flexible on London airport — the Gulf carriers fly from Heathrow, Gatwick and beyond, so compare across all of them.
- Check checked-bag rules: most full-service carriers to Australia include 30 kg, but the cheapest “light” fares may not — compare the all-in price.
Arriving in Melbourne
Long-haul flights land at Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL), about 23 km north-west of the city centre. There’s no train yet, so the usual options are the SkyBus express coach to Southern Cross Station (around 30–45 minutes, roughly £10 one way), a metered taxi or rideshare (about £30–£45 to the centre), or a pre-booked transfer. A few low-cost domestic flights use Avalon (AVV) further west, but international arrivals almost always use Tullamarine.
Frequently asked questions
Are there direct flights from London to Melbourne?
No. There are currently no non-stop flights between London and Melbourne. Every itinerary stops once — most often in Dubai, Doha, Singapore, Hong Kong or Perth. On price, though, the cheap fares we found all went through China: Hainan via Haikou from £619, China Eastern via Shanghai from £652 and China Southern out of Gatwick via Guangzhou from £793, against £1,075 and up on Etihad or Qatar.
How long is the flight from London to Melbourne?
With one stop, the total journey typically takes 22 to 24 hours including the layover. The flying time alone is around 20–21 hours; the Qantas routing via Perth (London–Perth non-stop, then a short hop) can be one of the quicker options overall.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Melbourne?
A typical economy return runs about £715–£1,075, median £768, with the whole sample spanning £619–£1,317. Good deals start at £619 on a Chinese carrier in the shoulder months or during sales, while the Gulf routings and the December–January peak sit at the top.
What is the cheapest month to fly from London to Melbourne?
March, May and October are usually the cheapest. In the dates we could price, returns started at £619. Avoid December and January (the Australian summer and Christmas peak) and the UK July–August school holidays, which are the busiest and most expensive.
Which airlines fly from London to Melbourne?
All one-stop. Cheapest first in our fare data: Hainan Airlines via Haikou (£619–£777, nearly half the cheapest fares and the floor), China Eastern via Shanghai (£652–£803), Shenzhen Airlines via Shenzhen (£742), Beijing Capital via Qingdao (£781), China Southern from Gatwick via Guangzhou (£793–£887), Etihad via Abu Dhabi (£1,075–£1,317) and Qatar Airways via Doha (£1,112–£1,189). Emirates via Dubai, Singapore Airlines and British Airways via Singapore, Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong and Qantas via Perth also sell the route but did not appear among the cheapest when we checked. Worth knowing: on this route the Gulf carriers are the expensive option, not the cheap one.
Which airport do I fly into in Melbourne?
You arrive at Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL), the city’s main international airport, about 23 km north-west of the centre. Some budget domestic flights use Avalon (AVV), further out to the south-west, but international arrivals use Tullamarine.
How far in advance should I book London to Melbourne flights?
Aim to book 4 to 6 months ahead, and earlier still for the Christmas and January peak, which fills up fast. Fares on this route tend to rise as departure approaches during busy periods, so early booking almost always wins.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Sometimes — midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) can be a little cheaper than weekend ones on this route, though on a long-haul fare the season matters far more than the day. Being flexible by a few days, and on your stopover city, usually saves more than picking a particular weekday.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Indicative economy returns — always check the live fare before booking.
