Access to Avalon Airport is set to improve for Geelong residents, with a new bus service beginning next month.
From Sunday, 15 March, the new Route 18 between Lara Station and Avalon Airport will - connect workers and passengers directly to the Geelong Line.
This new timetable has been designed to align with staff shift times - ensuring it serves the needs of passengers and also airport workers.
This will be the first ever public bus connection to Avalon Airport - a major step forward for workers, travellers and the region's growing economy.
With more than two thousand staff working at the airport and the broader precinct, Avalon is a vital employment hub for the state and for local families.
Buses will arrive at the terminal before most scheduled flight times and depart roughly 30 minutes after flight arrivals - making it easier to get to work or get away on time.
The new Route 18 will run seven days a week, providing a reliable public transport link between Lara Station and the airport for the first time.
The service complements a recent major uplift to the Geelong Line, which delivered 68 new weekend services, with trains now running every 20 minutes between 8am and 9pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and 20 existing weekend services extended through to Waurn Ponds.
It also builds on the Allan Labor Government backing Victoria's second international airport - securing Jetstar international flights to Bali, restarting flights to Adelaide and boosting services to Brisbane, bringing hundreds of thousands of new low-fare seats through Avalon each year.
Avalon Airport plays a vital role in Victoria's economy, operating 24/7 without a curfew and boosting tourism, trade and business across the region - including visitor destinations like the Great Ocean Road.
The airport will continue to be served by SkyBus, which runs the Avalon City Express to Melbourne via Werribee, while MyBus operates a charter minibus from Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast.
The new services support Victoria's Bus Plan, with funding also provided in the Victorian Budget 2025/26 to undertake a review of priority regional town bus networks including Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.
Victoria's Bus Plan has redesigned or strengthened more than 128 local bus networks, giving Victorian communities access to more than 11,000 extra services each week.
As stated by Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams
"Avalon Airport is growing fast - and this will be the first ever public bus service connecting the airport to the rail network."
"We're making it easier for workers to get to their jobs and for passengers to get to the airport, backed by more frequent Geelong Line services and better bus connections."
As stated by Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks
"Securing international flights back to Avalon was a huge win for the region - and this new bus connection ensures local workers and travellers can easily access those opportunities."
As stated by Member for Lara Ella George
"Avalon's growth has been extraordinary, and this bus service makes sure local families can access the jobs and travel options being created right here in our backyard."
As stated by Member for Geelong Christine Couzens
"This new bus connection makes it easier for Geelong residents to reach Avalon for work or travel, strengthening the link between our growing city, the airport and the opportunities it creates for local families."
As stated by Member for Bellarine Alison Marchant
"For families across the Bellarine, this service improves access to jobs at Avalon and makes travel more convenient, while supporting the continued growth of our regional economy."
