MEL vs EDI — Melbourne or Edinburgh?

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Verdict

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) scores higher overall at 8.1/10 versus Edinburgh Airport (EDI) at 7.6/10.

Score comparison

Metric	Melbourne Tullamarine Airport	Edinburgh Airport
FlightLogic Score	8.1	7.6
On-Time Performance	8.0	7.4
Passenger Experience	8.1	7.6
Facilities & Comfort	8.3	7.8
Lounge Score	8.6	7.2
City	Melbourne	Edinburgh
Country	Australia	United Kingdom
Terminals	4 terminals (T1 international, T2–T4 domestic)	1 terminal
Annual passengers	37M+	15M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy	MEL — Melbourne	EDI — Edinburgh
Rail / public transport	—	—
To city centre	—	—
Lounge day pass	—	—
Min. connection time	—	—
Primary hub carriers	—	—

Detailed profiles

Melbourne, Australia · MEL · #1 in this comparison

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport

4 terminals (T1 international, T2–T4 domestic) · 37M+ passengers/year

8.1 / 10

How good is Melbourne Tullamarine Airport?

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) scores 8.1/10 (Excellent) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (8.0), passenger experience (8.1), and facilities (8.3). Lounge quality rates 8.6/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Melbourne MEL scores 8.1/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.6/10. Qantas Business Lounge in Terminal 2 international is the premium benchmark. Allow 60+ minutes for arrival biosecurity. See /guides/melbourne-airport-lounge-guide and /reviews/qantas-first-lounge-sydney-review for Qantas ground product.

FlightLogic Score 8.1 Excellent

On-time 8.0 Departure reliability

Experience 8.1 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 8.3 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 8.6 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

8.0

Passenger Experience

8.1

Facilities & Comfort

8.3

Lounge score 8.6/10

Highlights

Terminal 2 international serves Qantas, Emirates, and oneworld partners
Qantas Business Lounge with Neil Perry-influenced dining — companion to Sydney First Lounge review
UK–Melbourne direct on Qantas and BA; common one-stop via Singapore or Doha
SkyBus to Melbourne CBD in 30–45 minutes

Overview

Australia's second international gateway — Qantas Business and First lounges in Terminal 2 international, strong oneworld hub for UK–Australia routings.

Terminal 2 international and Qantas lounges

Terminal 2 handles international departures for Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and oneworld partners. Qantas Business Lounge offers buffet and à la carte dining with Australian produce.

Domestic connections require terminal transfer (T2→T1/T3/T4) with re-security — plan 90+ minutes for domestic connections after international arrival.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom · EDI · #2 in this comparison

Edinburgh Airport

1 terminal · 15M+ passengers/year

7.6 / 10

How good is Edinburgh Airport?

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) scores 7.6/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.4), passenger experience (7.6), and facilities (7.8). Lounge quality rates 7.2/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Edinburgh EDI scores 7.6/10 on FlightLogic — Scotland's busiest airport. Tram to city centre ~30 min. Long-haul via Emirates, Qatar, United. UK261 applies to all departures. See /guides/edinburgh-airport-lounge-guide.

FlightLogic Score 7.6 Very Good

On-time 7.4 Departure reliability

Experience 7.6 Staff, queues, cleanliness

Facilities 7.8 Food, shops, seating

Lounges 7.2 Lounge quality

Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance

7.4

Passenger Experience

7.6

Facilities & Comfort

7.8

Lounge score 7.2/10

Highlights

Scotland's primary international gateway — Emirates, Qatar Airways, and United long-haul plus dense European network
Edinburgh Trams reach city centre in ~30 minutes — direct link from airport stop
No1 Lounge and Aspire Lounge accept Priority Pass; pre-book at peak
UK261 covers all EDI departures — essential for easyJet and Ryanair Scotland routes

Overview

Scotland's busiest airport — single terminal, tram to Edinburgh city centre in 30 minutes, and growing long-haul via Emirates, Qatar, and United.

Scotland's international hub

Edinburgh handles Scotland's intercontinental traffic — Emirates to Dubai, Qatar to Doha, United to Newark, and seasonal North America routes supplement a dense European network on easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, and BA.

For UK travellers north of the border, EDI avoids the Edinburgh–Heathrow positioning flight that adds cost and time. Compare MAN (/airports/manchester) for northern England connectivity.

Tram and ground transport

Edinburgh Trams run from the airport stop to York Place in the city centre every 7–10 minutes, taking ~30 minutes. Taxis and Uber operate from signed landside pick-up zones.

Allow extra time during Edinburgh Festival (August) when passenger volumes spike.

More comparisons

Compare Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) against 59 other airports

Compare Edinburgh Airport (EDI) against 59 other airports

FAQ

Which is better, Melbourne Tullamarine Airport or Edinburgh Airport?

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) scores higher overall at 8.1/10 versus Edinburgh Airport (EDI) at 7.6/10.

Which has better lounges, MEL or EDI?

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) scores higher for lounges at 8.6/10, versus Edinburgh Airport at 7.2/10.

Which airport is more on-time, MEL or EDI?

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) has stronger on-time performance at 8.0/10 versus Edinburgh Airport (EDI) at 7.4/10.