Adelaide Airport (ADL) is the largest airport in the state of South Australia.
It is located about 6 km west of Adelaide city centre, making it one of Australia’s most centrally located major airports. It offers direct flights to over 30 destinations in Oceania, Asia, and North America.
In 2025, Adelaide Airport handled more than 9 million passengers, ranking as Australia’s fifth-busiest airport.
Major Airlines - Virgin Australia, Qantas
Adelaide Airport is a hub for Virgin Australia, the country’s second-largest airline. Virgin operates more than 450 flights per month, serving 10 domestic destinations by direct flights.
Qantas, the flag carrier, also has a significant presence at ADL, which it considers a focus city. The airline has frequent flights to Australia’s biggest cities (Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth), while its subsidiary, QantasLink, serves a dozen smaller airports throughout the country.
Other domestic airlines that use Adelaide as an operating base include Rex Airlines and the low-cost operator Jetstar.
Nearly all international flights to/from Adelaide are served by foreign airlines. The largest include:
Singapore Airlines: Flies direct to Singapore, which allows hundreds of connections via Changi Airport.
Emirates: Offers the longest direct flight to Dubai (operated via partner arrangements)
Air New Zealand: Offers a year-round trans-Tasman service to Auckland and a seasonal one to Christchurch.
United Airlines: Flies nonstop to San Francisco seasonally.
In total, around 20 airlines serve Adelaide Airport, collectively flying to more than 30 direct destinations.
Click here to see the live departure board at Adelaide Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Adelaide Airport uses one terminal for both domestic and international flights. It was opened in 2005 and set for an expansion and improvements by 2028.
The terminal has 42 check-in counters on the Ground level. Past the Security checkpoint, passengers are directed upstairs to Departures. Domestic and international can use most of the same space without separation, including many of the dining options and lounges. Passport control separates the 10 gates for international flights from the 22 gates for domestic flights.
Adelaide Airport uses jetbridges (uniquely glass-sided ones) for most flights and can handle the world’s largest aircraft, Airbus A380.
The terminal is open between 11:30 PM and 3:15 AM.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Adelaide Airport has a transit lounge that allows transit without a visa (TWOV) for eligible international-to-international transit passengers, but it is very rarely used. It will only be made available if the airline provides advance notice and only for passengers arriving and departing on the same aircraft.
Since Adelaide Airport closes during the night, if you’re transiting overnight, you will need an appropriate visa for Australia to leave the airport and access accommodation until your next flight.
In case you arrive from abroad and proceed on a domestic flight, you need to clear Immigration and Security and proceed to your next gate. You must re-check your luggage manually.
Lastly, for domestic-to-international connections, depending on which airline you fly with, your luggage will likely be transferred automatically. You will need to go through Immigration near Gates 16, 17, and 18.
A longer layover may allow you to see the best things in Adelaide!
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Adelaide Airport provides free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal. Connect to “Adelaide Airport Free Wi-Fi”, then open your browser, and log in. The network is not limited in time or bandwidth.
ATMs: At least four machines, two on Level 0 and two on Level 2.
Currency exchange: Travelex operates a currency exchange desk on Level 2 of the Terminal.
Baggage storage: Provided by SmarteCarte and available 24/7 via automated lockers. Costs 10 AUD per day for small items, 16 for medium, and 20 for large.
Lost property: If you’ve lost something at the terminal, fill out this form.
Pharmacy: Available on Level 2 of the terminal.
Baby Care rooms: They include feeding areas, toddler toilets, diaper-changing tables, basins, and a microwave for food preparation.
Children’s Play Area: The gated play area is airside, next to Hudson's Coffee.
Vickers Vimy: A free exhibition about Adelaide’s aviation history. Located on the Ground floor of the terminal, opposite the entrance of the Atura Hotel. Open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM.
A Welcome and Information desk: Located near the entrance.
Showers: In three locations: on the Ground Floor, on Level 2 behind Gate 16, and on Level 2 behind Gate 18 (International Departures).
Prayer rooms: One for domestic passengers located on Level 2, between Rip Curl and NewsLink, and one for international passengers, airside near the escalator/stairs.
Smoking areas: Smoking is only allowed in designated areas, including at the southern end of the Ground level and at both ends of Level 2.
Musical Performances: If you happen to be at the airport on a Friday, from 2:30 PM until 4:30 PM, you can listen to live music and/or a choir performance near Gate 14.
Lounges at Adelaide Airport
Two airlines maintain lounges for their passengers at Adelaide Airport:
The Qantas Club and Domestic Business Lounge is located opposite Gate 21 and combines spaces for both domestic and international flyers. The lounge is open every day, starting from one hour before the first Qantas flight until the last departing flight of the airline. To enter, you need to be a member of the Qantas Club, fly business or first class, or be an oneworld elite status member.
The Virgin Australia Lounge is located opposite Gate 15 and only serves domestic passengers (Virgin doesn’t have international flights from Adelaide anyway). The lounge is open every day, starting from one hour before the first Virgin Australia flight until the last departing flight of the airline. To enter, you need to be a Virgin Australia Lounge Member, fly in business class, or have Velocity Platinum or Velocity Gold. Walk-ins are also accepted at 65 AUD for a 2-hour pass.
There are also two Plaza Premium Lounges, one for domestic and one for international passengers.
Plaza Premium Domestic Lounge: Located near Gate 16 and open from 5 AM to 8 PM every day. You can enter either with a 2-hour Lite package for 29 AUD or a 2-hour Standard package for 48.60 AUD. The latter includes access to alcoholic beverages. Other amenities offered at this lounge include freshly-made pizzas, barista coffee, local sports and news, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Plaza Premium International Lounge: Located on Level 1 of the International Departures area. Open daily with different times, usually with a break between 13:00 and 16:30. Passes are sold for 1 hour (49 AUD), a standard 2 hours (65.70 AUD), or a 2-hour pass with shower access included (76.50 AUD). It offers many of the same amenities as the equivalent domestic lounge.
Dining Options at ADL
Most restaurants, bars, and coffee houses are located in the Domestic Departures concourse after security. Landside dining is limited to just a handful of places.
The International area only has one breakfast bar: Hills Bar + Kitchen, which offers pastries, sandwiches, pizzas, bar fare, coffee, beer on tap, wines, and spirits. It opens before the first international flight for the day and closes after the last one.
In the Domestic area, there are nearly 20 different places where you can grab something to eat or sit down for a proper meal. Many restaurants highlight South Australian produce, including wine from local vineyards, which the region is famous for.
Popular places include:
The Pantry: Offers artisanal bakery items and coffee. Located on Level 2, just right after the security check.
Nom Nom: Enjoy Vietnamese cuisine and French café culture from 4 AM to 9 PM daily.
Soul Origin: Select from a wide array of salads, rolls, paninis, sandwiches, or wholesome meals. Open daily from 4:30 AM to 7 PM.
SOHO Coffee Roasters: One of the best places to have coffee at Adelaide Airport. Open from 4:30 AM to 8 PM daily.
Hawker Bar: Enjoy Southeast Asian street food like dumplings, fried rice, spring rolls, bubble tea, and more. Open between 5 AM and 8 PM daily.
Coopers Alehouse: Located right in front of Gates 19-20, Coopers is one of the two best places to go for a drink or watch a live sports game before your domestic flight from ADL. Open from 5 AM to 9:30 PM.
ADL Grounds Bar: The other best place to watch your favorite game on TV. It’s family-friendly, offers casual dining, and everyone’s favorite bar snacks like fries, wings, burgers, and chicken parmas. Open from 6 AM to 9 PM.
Smaller kiosks belong to Krispy Kreme (doughnuts), Boost Juice (fresh blended fruit juices), and Subway (sandwiches). There’s also a McDonald’s near Gate 16.
Transport to and from the airport
Adelaide Airport is just 6 km from the city center (CBD) and is served by public buses:
Buses J1 and J2 run directly between Adelaide’s CBD and the airport.
Buses J7 and J8 run to Adelaide’s south-west and north-west suburbs, stopping at the airport.
To reach the airport, get off at Stop 10 on Sir Richard Williams Avenue, which is less than a 5-minute walk from the Terminal. There are luggage trolleys near the bus stop. This is also the stop where you can take the buses towards the CBD.
These buses take around 15-20 minutes to reach downtown Adelaide. Tickets cost 4.55 AUD during peak periods or 2.60 AUD during off-peak periods.
Taxis and rideshare services such as Uber and DiDi operate at Adelaide Airport.
The taxi drop-off location is at the Atura Circuit Drop-Off point, between the terminal and the Atura Hotel. From there, a short covered walkway will bring you to the terminal.
The ridesharing drop-off location is directly in front of the Terminal Plaza.
Fares between the airport and the city are similar between taxis and rideshares, in the order of 25-35 AUD.
Car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Redspot, Europcar, Sixt, and Hertz, also operate desks on the ground floor of the terminal, next to the baggage claim area. The cars themselves are on the ground floor of the multi-level car park P1, which is linked by a covered walkway to the Terminal (<5 minutes).
Adelaide, being one of Australia’s most bicycle-friendly cities, locals will find getting to the airport by bike a very convenient option. To reach the CBD, take the Linear Park Bike Path. For Glenelg, take the Reece Jennings Bike Path. You can park at the bicycle racks on the ground level of the P1 Terminal Car Park for free.
Parking at Adelaide Airport
Adelaide Airport has three parking garages intended for different lengths of stay and offers valet parking right in front of the terminal. All facilities are open 24/7, every day of the year, are ticketless, and available for pre-booking. The garages have around 3300 parking spaces in total.
Valet Parking: The easiest but also the priciest. Pull up in front of the terminal entrance, hand your keys over to the attendant, and walk straight in. This service is available from 4:30 AM to 11:30 PM daily and costs 91 AUD for the first day plus less for additional days (363 AUD for the first week).
P1 Terminal Car Park: The best option for dropping off or picking up passengers, as well as short stays, although there is no time limit. It’s just 100 meters from the terminal via a covered walkway. Charges start at 8 AUD for the first 15 minutes, 16 AUD for the first hour, and a daily maximum of 52 AUD.
P2 Outdoor Car Park: The budget-friendly parking option and is suitable for longer trips. It’s 5-7 minutes away from the terminal. Daily rates start at 47 AUD for the first day and less for every additional day, down to 25 AUD per day after a week.
P3 Long Term Car Park: The best-value choice for long stays. Located 7-10 minute walk from the terminal. Daily rates start at 39 AUD for the first day and less for every additional day, down to 15 AUD per day after a week.
Online reservations normally get you a better price than driving up to the garage.
For EV charging, park on Level 2 of P1, where there are two Tesla-specific bays and two bays for all other models.
Accessible parking is also available within P1. There are 12 accessible bays on Level 2, 6 on Level 1, and 4 each on Levels 3 and 4, all right next to lifts and marked with blue guidance lights.
If you’d like to say goodbye to the people you’re dropping off at their gate, you can book a special Meet & Greet package, which includes 2-hours of parking in the P1 Terminal Car Park for 14 AUD and access to the airside area. You still need to go through Security.
Hotels near Adelaide Airport
The closest hotel to ADL is the Atura Adelaide Airport, which is directly connected to the terminal via a pedestrian walkway. It is designed specifically for airport travellers with its 24-hour reception, free wifi, a fitness center, a business center, and soundproofed rooms. It’s the perfect fit for overnight stays before early morning flights.
A slightly cheaper alternative is the Adelaide Airport Motel, which is located about 13-minutes of walking from the terminal, though it also offers a convenient airport shuttle service. Its rooms are more basic but still comfortable, and the on-site restaurant is duly recommended.
You can find numerous additional hotels in West Beach (to the west of the airport) and central Adelaide (to the east of the airport), both within a 20-minute taxi ride.
Adelaide, SA, Australia
