SYD → MELSydney to Melbourne

live

Direct flights from Sydney (SYD) to Melbourne (MEL): 22 nonstop departures observed each week across 4 airlines. 96% of the last 26 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 9 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 26 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 705 km, an estimated 1 hour 24 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Sydney and Melbourne. Updated 8 September 2026 at 14:52 UTC.

SYD Sydney smooth · +0
MEL Melbourne smooth · +0
705 km · ~1h 24m est.
dep bank 06:00–22:0022x weekly
Runs reliable · 4 airlines · 22x weekly · nonstop
96% on time

of the last 26 operated SYD → MEL flights arrived within 15 minutes

Median arrival delay is −9 min. 0 of 26 tracked legs cancelled in the sample. Will a delayed flight be cancelled? →

Median arrival−9 minacross the last 26 operated legs
Flight time~1h 24mestimated from route distance
Weekly departures22x4 direct airlines on the leg
Cancelled0.0%recent route rate · 0 of 26

The week

scheduled departures · origin local time
06121824
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Cathay PacificJetstar AirwaysQantas AirwaysVirgin Australia

Each mark is a scheduled departure at its origin-local time, observed operating in the last 7 days. Today is highlighted.

Who flies it

observed on the boards · 7 days
Cathay PacificCX

Flights CX3128 14:08 Mo

Jetstar AirwaysJQ100% on time

Flights JQ501 06:00 daily · JQ505 07:00 daily · JQ507 08:15 daily · JQ515 08:50 daily

Qantas AirwaysQF100% on time

Flights QF401 06:00 Mo Tu We Th Fr · QF405 06:25 daily · QF409 07:00 Mo Tu We Th Fr · QF413 07:25 daily

Virgin AustraliaVA89% on time

Flights VA800 06:00 Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa · VA804 06:30 Mo Th Fr · VA808 07:00 daily · VA810 07:15 Mo Tu We Th Fr

History

operated legs · board outcomes
09-08JQ521dep +20 → arr−3
09-08JQ523dep +0 → arr−10
09-08JQ525dep +0 → arr−6
09-08JQ527dep +0 → arr−5
09-08JQ529dep +0 → arr−14
09-08JQ533dep +0 → arr−14
09-08QF1515dep +0 → arr−17
09-08QF453arrived−1
09-08QF461dep +0 → arr−18
09-08QF465dep +0 → arr−9
09-08QF471dep +0 → arr−12
09-08QF473dep +0 → arr−9
09-08QF475dep +0 → arr−5
09-08QF477dep +0 → arr−11
09-08QF481dep +0 → arr+0
09-08QF483dep +0 → arr−8
09-08QF499dep +0 → arr+0
09-08VA850arrived−8
09-08VA858dep +40 → arr+36
09-08VA862dep +5 → arr−10
09-08VA866dep +0 → arr+2
09-08VA870dep −5 → arr−16
09-08VA874dep −10 → arr−13
09-08VA878dep +0 → arr−8
09-08VA882dep +0 → arr−14
09-08VA892dep +0 → arr−15

Actual board outcomes rather than schedules, paired departure and arrival per flight and day.

Full board history, day by day →

Airports right now

live boards
SYDSydney +0 min smooth 🌤 clear · NW 6 kt Full SYD delay board →
MELMelbourne +0 min smooth 🌤 overcast · NW 6 kt Full MEL delay board →

Weather lens

Current conditions put the pressure at MEL: 37% odds of a 15+ minute delay and around +7 min expected when it bites, measured from this route's own weather-matched delay history. See live delays → · Weather risk by airport →

How the Sydney to Melbourne route actually runs

Pro Flight Search records official board updates for nonstop SYD to MEL flights through the day: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises.

Planning around a delay? Live airport delays · Weather delay risk map · Will a delayed flight be cancelled? · Do planes make up time in the air? · How we measure

Cite this data

Journalists, bloggers, and researchers may cite this page with attribution and a link to Pro Flight Search.

Suggested citation

Pro Flight Search — Sydney (SYD) to Melbourne (MEL) route reliability, measured from operated flights on official airport boards.

Canonical URL
https://proflightsearch.com/search-flights/SYD-MEL
How we measure this →

SYD to MEL questions

Is SYD–MEL running on time right now?

Smooth skies ahead. Both endpoints currently score the same, route health score 100/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.

Morning or evening flight on SYD–MEL?

Operators schedule morning departures around 06:00 and evening departures around 17:00 from SYD. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the MEL delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.

How long is the flight from SYD to MEL?

Great-circle distance is 705 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 80–90 min gate-to-gate on this route.

How often does SYD–MEL fly?

4 carriers operate this route, around 473 flights a week between them. Compare carrier days and times in the airline list above.